A Study on Agrarian Economy in the Hills of Manipur with Special Reference to Thadou-Kuki Ethnic Group

Abstract

Jhum-based agriculture has been the dominant mode of economic activity in terms of production and livelihoods for tribal people of Manipur. Thadou tribe has the highest population among all the tribes in Manipur, and their economy has been characterised by jhumming. But in recent times there has been a significant change in the way, these tribes practice their economic activities and livelihoods. The study is based on 15 villages of four different sub-divisions of three hill districts of Manipur where Thadou-Kukis are settled in large numbers. The study seeks to understand the occupational patterns of Thadou-Kuki group and the nature of its agrarian economy using village level data. The study finds that the occupational patterns of this group are changing and they are giving up jhum-based paddy cultivation for other cash crops and non-agricultural sectors. Settled cultivation is practiced widespread but due to the non-application of modern inputs, there has been a huge shortage of rice. Agricultural diversification is taking place in jhum area and there are inter-regional variations in the way the villages practice diversification. Some villages are growing poppy in a large scale and some high-value crops like ginger, king chilly and sesame. The nature of Thadou-Kuki agrarian economy is no more a homogenous one; it is now more of a differentiated agrarian economy. The state of the agrarian economy in the surveyed villages indicates a transitional flux where there is a huge food grain deficit and at the same time diversification is not taking smoothly.