BHAWANIPATNA: The effects of shifting or Podu cultivation are devastating and far-reaching in degrading the environment and ecology. This has resulted in large-scale deforestation, soil and nutrient loss in Kalahandi. Despite ban and intervention of Watershed Mission, Podu cultivation has been continuing in the district.
Mostly practised by tribals, dependent on forests, in the absence of alternative source of income and quality of plain agriculture land, this is resulting in denudation of forest cover.
According to a survey by Watershed Mission, over 30,000 hectares of unsurveyed hill slopes have been critically affected by Podu.
The worst affected are Thuamul Rampur, Lanjigarh and M. Rampur blocks where more than 24,000 hectares in
796 villages under 32 panchayats the
cultivation is taken up by 7,000 households.
To mitigate the environmental loss, provide other alternatives of livelihood to the local population and get tangible results, a workshop was organised by Watershed Mission. With a belief that intervention of line departments would help curb the cultivation to a great extent, it was decided to create an awareness among the people and officials concerned.
Kalahandi Collector Rupa Mishra said there should be convergence among all line departments like agriculture, horticulture, veterinary, industry, soil conservation and watershed and combined district planning and implementation.