Bhubaneswar, Aug. 1: Slash-and-burn cultivation, popularly known as podu in Odisha, is taking a heavy toll on greenery in the state's tribal-dominated districts where the practice is rampant.

In the districts of Rayagada, Malkangiri and Koraput, once-green hills are now denuded because of this shifting cultivation method.

Podu, according to environmentalists, also damages the fertility of soil in the long run by destroying its nutrients.

This is what makes tribal farmers abandon burnt and used patches and move to newer ones.

"While this kind of farming is destroying the green cover, it is also taking a toll on the fertility of the land," said green activist Bijay Mishra, who has studied the issue closely.

Mishra said things had become further complicated with a rise in tribal population and more and more members of the communities taking to podu.

"Earlier if a tribal farmer used to take one to two years to return to the patch that he had once cleared by burning for cultivation, it now happens in a much shorter span of time. As a result, the yield from the land is going down," explained the environmentalist, calling for steps to end the practice.

Among the other consequences of podu are air pollution and habitat loss for wildlife species inhabiting the areas where such cultivation is practised.

However, such farmers continue to engage in this shifting method of cultivation because of the low cost involved.

This remains a matter of concern for the advocates of healthy farming practices.

Some time ago, senior BJD leader and former agriculture minister Amar Prasad Satpathy had described podu as unscientific farming and called for steps to sensitise tribal farmers so that they realise its adverse impact.

Sources said the farmers had taken to slash-and-burn cultivation because of the lack of awareness about modern farming techniques.

"They indulge in this because they find the procedure easy and cheap. But they can be weaned away from this if the authorities introduce them to modern and healthy farming techniques," said a government official, who requested not to be named.

The official also emphasised the need for the government offering lucrative alternatives such as orchard farming to these people.

The official said: "However, it must be done in a way that suits their surroundings. If they find it cumbersome, they will reject it."