For administrative and economic reasons, the British government tried settling the jhum cultivators. However, settled plough cultivation did not prove to be helpful for them. They often suffered because their land did not produced good yields. Their life was directly connected to the forests so when British government changes the forest law their life was badly affected.

The problems faced by shifting cultivators under British rule were:

(a) The British extended their control over forests and declared that forests were states property.

(b) Some forests were classified as reserved forests for they produce timber which the British wanted.

(c) People were not allowed to move freely and practice jhum cultivation in these forests.

(d) They had to give up their traditional way of life.

(e) They had to practice settled plough cultivation which was not easy.

(f) They had to face the scarcity of water and dry soil. Their land was measured; the rights of each individual to that land were defined.

(g) The revenue demand for the state was fixed.