State the reasons why shifting cultivation was banned under European colonialism in India.

State the reasons why shifting cultivation was banned under European colonialism in India.

Ans.

(i) European foresters felt that land used for cultivation every few years could not support trees for railway timber.

(ii) Moreover, when a forest was burnt, there was a danger of the flames spreading and burning valuable timber.

(iii) Shifting cultivation also made it harder for the government to calculate taxes. Therefore, they banned shifting cultivation.