Comparative study of energy flow through village ecosystems of two co-existing communities (the Khasis and the Nepalis) of Meghalaya in North-East India

Abstract

This study deals with the village ecosystem function of typical Khasi and Nepali villages at Nayabunglow, at an elevation of 960 m, in Meghalaya north-east India. The Khasis chiefly practise jhum in a 5-year cycle, though some valley cultivation of rice and cultivation of pineapple on hill slopes also takes place. Pineapple plantations were most profitable and energy efficient. The Nepalis have kitchen gardens and valley cultivation of rice and fodder grass (Pennisetum purpurea) for cattle. Kitchen garden were the most efficient of the three. Swine husbandry and poultry-keeping are two main components of the animal husbandry subsystem of the Khasis. The Nepalis are basically cattle farmers. From an energy point of view, the Nepalis' cattle husbandry was the most efficient, followed by the swine husbandry of the Khasis. From an economic point of view, swine husbandry had the highest economic efficiency, followed by cattle husbandry for milk production. Both communities consumed half or more of the production from the land as food with a small fraction being kept aside as seed. About half the production from the valley cultivation was given to the landowner as rent. They meet their energy and protein needs from their production systems. The Khasis export a large fraction of their agricultural produce and both communities sell the produce from animal husbandry in the market only to buy again that which they need. The Khasis also export labour for cash income from outside. The significance of these observations is discussed.