Quantifying the extent of shifting cultivation: An urgent need to revisit and revise landuse and land cover classifications

Present landuse classifications fail to capture the diverse stages of shifting cultivation, particularly the dynamic stages in its fallow phase. This results in such landuse being incorrectly delegated to wasteland and forest classes as well as landcover categories that are not obviously linked to shifting cultivation. This is the last in the series of briefs highlighting policy approaches required to address second-generation issues arising from the transition from shifting cultivation to settled agriculture. It highlights the paucity of accurate, updated data and information on the extent of shifting cultivation and discusses the reasons for it. The brief advocates revisiting and revising landuse and landcover classifications urgently to improve quantification approaches and argues that this is central to effectively manage change in shifting cultivation ensuring, thereby, inclusive rural transformation. This is imperative for the successful management of shifting cultivation and for bringing shifting cultivators within the fold of inclusive development.