List regions in India where primitive subsistence farming persists?

Primitive subsistence farming in India continues to be practiced by tribal and rural communities living in hilly, forested, and remote regions. It occurs mainly where terrain, climate, and social traditions limit the use of modern agricultural methods.

Major Regions in India Practicing Primitive Subsistence Farming

1. Northeastern States (Jhumming Cultivation)
   • States: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura
   • Local Name: Jhumming or Jhum cultivation
   • Method: Forest patches are burnt to enrich soil; crops like rice, millets, and vegetables are cultivated for 2–3 years before moving to new land.
2. Central India — Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh (Bewar or Dahiya)
   • Found in tribal belts such as Bastar, Mandla, and Dindori districts.
   • Local Names: Bewar, Dahiya (Madhya Pradesh); Dipa (Chhattisgarh)
   • Crops: Millets, maize, and pulses are common.
3. Eastern and Southeastern States — Odisha and Jharkhand
   • Local Names: Pama Dabi, Koman, Bringa (Odisha); Kuruwa (Jharkhand)
   • Practiced in tribal regions with forest clearings and traditional land-rotation systems.
4. Southern Peninsular India — Andhra Pradesh and Western Ghats
   • Regions: Hilly belts of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu
   • Local Names: Podu, Penda (Andhra Pradesh); Kumari (Western Ghats)
   • Crops: Rice, tapioca, and yams grown mainly for family consumption.
5. Western and Northern India
   • South-Eastern Rajasthan: Valre or Waltre cultivation among Bhil tribes.
   • Himalayan Belt (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh): Khil cultivation on steep hill slopes.
   • Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Practiced by indigenous tribes using mixed cropping on cleared forest land.