Native land, water management sustaining Nagaland’s terrace agriculture, study says

Terrace farming in Nagaland is a departure from the ubiquitous slash-and-burn or shifting cultivation. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Indigenous land and water management underpins the terrace farming model of the Angami community in Nagaland, a study by a Nagaland University team has found.

According to a study published in the journal Sage, the agricultural practices of the Angami Nagas are not only ecologically adaptive but also culturally resilient, contributing to the long-term sustainability of food production and environmental stewardship.

The authors of the study are Ketekhoto Neihu and Srikanth Yamsani of the university’s Tribal Research Centre.

Angamis traditions

Angami farmers build bench terraces to grow rice on steep slopes. This model is a departure from the ubiquitous slash-and-burn or shifting cultivation practiced mostly in the rugged, mountainous terrain of the Northeast.

The researchers note that among the Angamis indigenous communities, they developed sophisticated agricultural practices, particularly the construction of bench terraces to grow rice on steep slopes.

Based on ethnographic findings, their study examines the resource management of the Angamis and argues that the ongoing sustainability of their terrace cultivation lies in the synergistic relationship between traditional ecological practices and community life.

Unlike previous studies that focused on the technical aspects of terrace farming, this study goes deeper into the underlying social, cultural and ecological knowledge system that supports the practice.

Much of the research focuses on traditional practices of soil conservation, water management and organic farming.

“Terrace farms are built using traditional construction methods that reduce soil erosion and allow for proper water use. The continued use of organic inputs, rather than chemical inputs, reflects efforts to protect the environment and human health,” the document says.

“Our study found that the Angami Naga population continues to practice agriculture in close connection with the cycles and signs of nature. Farmers plant, transplant and harvest using cues such as the flowering time of plants, the habits of birds and insects,” said Dr. Yamsani.

“While these forms of agricultural practice are still strong, it is important to highlight the new challenges that farmers face, such as changing rainfall patterns and climate variability. It is also important to note that the adaptability of indigenous knowledge systems is very important,” he said.

The results of the study are expected to help implement development policies and projects that might otherwise prevent indigenous peoples from using their culturally sensitive agricultural methods.

Published – 16 Jun 2026 02:36 IST