Quick Read
- Farmers in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts are shifting from traditional jhum to machan farming due to land scarcity and declining yields.
- Machan farming uses bamboo trellises to grow vegetables above ground, reducing soil erosion and pest problems.
- Land under jhum decreased by nearly 800 hectares from 2014 to 2025, while machan cultivation expanded by over 500 hectares.
- Machan farming provides steady income, with farmers reporting yearly gains of $570 to $650.
- Experts stress that jhum remains culturally important and advocate protecting Indigenous farming identities alongside new methods.
DHAKA (Azat TV) – In the Chittagong Hill Tracts of southeastern Bangladesh, Indigenous farmers are increasingly replacing the centuries-old practice of jhum, or shifting cultivation, with a new method called machan farming. This transition is driven by growing population pressure on land and declining jhum yields, prompting farmers to adopt bamboo trellis-supported vegetable cultivation that both improves profitability and reduces soil erosion.
Jhum Decline in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts
Jhum farming traditionally involved clearing forest patches, burning vegetation, and rotating plots over long fallow periods to allow soil recovery. Indigenous communities including the Chakma, Marma, Mro, Bawm, and Khumi have relied on jhum not only for subsistence but as a cultural identity marked by rituals and seasonal festivals.
However, increased population density has drastically shortened fallow periods to as little as two to three years, compared to traditional 9-10 year rests, resulting in weakened soil and reduced crop yields. According to the Bandarban Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), land under jhum farming dropped from 9,050 hectares in 2014-15 to 8,270 hectares in 2024-25, while the number of farmers rose from 45,642 to 56,524 over the same period.
Machan Farming Offers Economic and Environmental Benefits
Machan farming uses bamboo poles and wooden sticks to create elevated trellises for climbing vegetables like bitter gourd, cucumber, and beans. This setup keeps crops off the ground, lowering exposure to pests, fungal diseases, and waterlogging, and allows multiple harvests per year.
Farmers such as Milan Tanchangya in Bandarban district report annual additional incomes of 70,000 to 80,000 takas ($570–$650) from machan farming, a significant improvement compared to dwindling returns from jhum. The cultivation method also protects fragile hill slopes by maintaining vegetation cover, reducing soil erosion during heavy rains.
DAE officials confirm that machan farming is expanding rapidly, with areas under cultivation growing from about 2,282 hectares in 2022-23 to 2,827 hectares in 2024-25. The method is especially popular in hilly upazilas like Sadar and Rowangchari.
Challenges and Cultural Considerations
Despite its advantages, machan farming cannot fully replace jhum, which remains deeply tied to Indigenous cultural practices and social structures. Experts like Prashanta Tripura, director of Hunger Project-Bangladesh, emphasize the need for policies that protect jhum’s cultural significance while supporting sustainable agricultural transitions.
Environmental scientists highlight that machan’s maintained vegetation cover helps stabilize hill slopes, contrasting with the bare soil left by jhum clearings that are prone to erosion and reduced fertility. Professor Mohammed Kamal Hossain from the University of Chittagong stresses that this shift is crucial for long-term ecological sustainability in the region.
The shift from jhum to machan farming in Bangladesh’s hill districts represents a critical adaptation to demographic and environmental pressures, balancing economic necessity with cultural heritage and ecological preservation.