The tribal societies of north-eastern India have wet rice cultivation as a land use activity, along
with shifting agriculture (locally called `Jhum'), and the 'home gardens', which is an imitation
of a forest but with economically important species. Wet rice cultivation is done at valley
bottoms and sometimes on small terraces constructed at the base of the hill slopes all around; this
results in a whole set of plots forming a sancer-shaped structure. The structure, organization and
function of these agroecosystem types differ significantly depending upon social, cultural,
economic and ecological setting in which this land use system is practiced. The Apatani
version of wet rice cultivation is one of the most advanced. Even this offers opportunities for
redevelopment, with additional scientific inputs. This paper considers the possibilities.