A fresh look at shifting cultivation: Fallow length an uncertain indicator of productivity
Shifting cultivation is practiced by millions of farmers in the tropics and has been accused of causing deforestation and keeping farmers in poverty. The assumed positive relationship between fallow length and crop yields has long shaped such negative opinions on the sustainability and environment...
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| Format: | E-Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier Ltd.
2008
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| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/12271/1/A%20fresh%20look%20at%20shifting%20cultivation%20fallow%20length%20an%20uncertain%20indicator%20of%20productivity%20%28abstract%29.pdf http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/12271/ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X07000790 |
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| Summary: | Shifting cultivation is practiced by millions of farmers in the tropics and has been accused of causing deforestation and keeping farmers
in poverty. The assumed positive relationship between fallow length and crop yields has long shaped such negative opinions on the
sustainability and environmental impact of the system, as population growth is believed inevitably to lead to its collapse. Empirical evidence
for this assumption is scarce, however, and a better understanding of system dynamics is needed before discarding shifting cultivation
as unsustainable. With cases from Malaysia and Indonesia, we show that fallow length is a weak predictor of crop yields, though
interactions with fertilizer inputs may increase its importance. Other factors such as drought, flooding, and pests are more important
determinants of yields. The implication is that when using natural fallow as the only means of nutrient supply, there is no need to
cut old fallow vegetation. Moreover, there is no evidence of system collapse, even at short fallow periods. We conclude that shifting cultivation
should be accepted as a rational land use system and that earlier calls for bringing a ‘‘Green Revolution’’ to shifting cultivators
are still relevant to achieve intensive and sustainable production. |
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