Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Taungya is a historical agroforestry system developed in Myanmar during the mid-19th century to establish forest plantations in hilly regions.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- The word "Taungya" is derived from Burmese, where "Taung" means hill and "ya" means cultivation.
- Therefore, Taungya translates directly to hill cultivation.
- Under this system, forest workers are permitted to grow agricultural crops in between young forest tree saplings during the first few years of plantation establishment.
- This system provides food to local communities while ensuring cost-effective maintenance of commercial forest stands on slopes.
- Jhum, Podo, and Kurwa refer to traditional shifting cultivation systems practiced by different tribal groups in India.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Taungya cultivation is also known as hill cultivation.