The future of shifting cultivation is bleak due to several reasons. One of the major problems is that the cycle of jhum becomes less and less due to loss of fertility in different parcels of land. This reduces the time available for land to regenerate, making the practice unsustainable.

Moreover, this agricultural activity cannot compete in the world market. Synthetic products of better quality and at lower prices have replaced many items that were traditionally supplied by the gatherers in tropical forests.

The practice relies on primitive tools and small cultivated patches, which further limits its viability in modern agricultural systems.