Ecosystem function in a Khasi village of the desertified Cherrapunji area in northeast India

Abstract

Village ecosystem function of the Khasis in Meghalaya was studied. The land has been desertified around Cherrapunji as the traditional slash and burn agriculture (jhum) has been replaced by plantation systems. Apart from mixed plantations with areca nut, orange, jackfruit, bay leaf, black pepper and betel leaf, broom grass, thatch grass and bamboo are also raised in the village. All the systems generally are economically viable and have a high energy efficiency with labour as the major input. Poultry and swine husbandry are two animal husbandry systems in the village. Both are largely detritus based. About 9% of the produce from mixed areca nut plantation, 50% from the bamboo and entire produce of thatch grass is utilized within the village and the rest is exported. In the absence of agriculture much of the food for consumption is imported from outside the village boundary. The possibility of further useful changes needs evaluation with scientific inputs.