Abstract:

The Memba people consider land as the prime wealth of family and they engage themselves in getting the best out of its and their livelihood depends mostly on the produce from field. The different activation, i.e land, viz, agriculture, hunting, fishing, gathering and grazing are embedded in this land and therefore, carries enough significance for the people of the village. In Memba society the status of the person is determine on the basis of the amount of land one possesses. People who possess more land is considered as rich persons. Memba people did not practice the shifting cultivation or jhum agricultural rather they practice terrace cultivation in dry land. In terrace field, they cultivate millets, rice, wheat and maize. They have their indigenous technique to maintain the soil fertility of their terrace field or cultivation field. They generally celebrate festival and perform rituals before or after the harvesting of the crops in order to ensure bumper production of crops, well being of domestic animals, and prosperity in the community life as a whole.