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IntroductionThis Community Forestry Case Study presents the results of a study of shifting cultivation carried out between 1987 and 1991 at the request of the Royal Government of Bhutan. The findings, conclusions and proposals of the study are given in the hope that they may be of use in regulating this practice through public policy measures in other countries where shifting cultivation on steep mountain slopes is becoming a problem due to growing population densities and a changing socioeconomic landscape.

Farming system where farmers move on from one Farming system where farmers move on from one place to another when the land becomes exhausted. place to another when the land becomes exhausted.

The most common form is The most common form is slash-and-burnslash-and-burn agriculture: agriculture: land is cleared by burning, so that crops can be land is cleared by burning, so that crops can be

grown. After a few years, soil fertility is reduced and grown. After a few years, soil fertility is reduced and the land is abandoned. A new area is cleared while the land is abandoned. A new area is cleared while

the old land recovers its fertility. the old land recovers its fertility. Slash-and-burn is practiced in many tropical forest Slash-and-burn is practiced in many tropical forest

areas, such as the Amazon region, where yams, areas, such as the Amazon region, where yams, cassava, and sweet potatoes can be grown. cassava, and sweet potatoes can be grown.

WhatWhat isis Shifting Cultivation……Shifting Cultivation……

This system works well while population levels are low, but where there This system works well while population levels are low, but where there is is overpopulation, the old land will be reused before soil fertility has , the old land will be reused before soil fertility has been restored. A variation of this system, found in parts of Africa, is been restored. A variation of this system, found in parts of Africa, is rotational bush fallowing that involves a more permanent settlement rotational bush fallowing that involves a more permanent settlement

and crop rotation. and crop rotation.

OrOr

Example on shifting cultivation

The steps of The steps of

Shifting Shifting cultivationcultivation

Forest is cut and dried, in preparation for burning.

Burning of the dried slash is hot

and smoky, but an exciting event.

With the use of a digging stick, corn or

other crops will be planted among the charred trunks and logs.

Corn grown in a swale that recently supported "hill-base" forest.

MoveAway!

Picture on shifting cultivation…

The Advantage/Disadvantage of Shifting CultivationThe Advantage/Disadvantage of Shifting Cultivation

There are some couple of advantage and disadvantage of shifting cultivation...There are some couple of advantage and disadvantage of shifting cultivation...

AdvantagesAdvantages DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Easy to grow quicklyEasy to grow quickly Not long termNot long term

Environmentally friendly Environmentally friendly because it is organic farmingbecause it is organic farming

Not good for land that is used only Not good for land that is used only for one type of cropfor one type of crop

   Not enough foodNot enough food

   Not cost effectiveNot cost effective

  Troublesome to move around all the Troublesome to move around all the timetime

  Difficult to prosper because Difficult to prosper because everybody has to work for food.everybody has to work for food.

Therefore, you may assume that there shifting cultivation is generally bad. However, in real life, this is not so. The point of view we are looking at it is from a normal person. A temiar may look at it otherwise because they do not see the need of prospering and cost-effectiveness.

The problem of shifting cultivationThe problem of shifting cultivation

The "problem" of shifting cultivation, The "problem" of shifting cultivation, which is accused of destroying forest which is accused of destroying forest resources, being uneconomical, leading to resources, being uneconomical, leading to destruction of watersheds, erosion, destruction of watersheds, erosion, desertification, etc., has already been the desertification, etc., has already been the subject of two other case studies in this subject of two other case studies in this series .series .

QUIZ TIMEQUIZ TIME

What are the steps of the shifting cultivation?What are the steps of the shifting cultivation? What is the meaning of shifting cultivation?What is the meaning of shifting cultivation? What are the advantages of the shifting What are the advantages of the shifting

cultivation? (name two)cultivation? (name two) What are the disadvantages of shifting cultivation? What are the disadvantages of shifting cultivation?

(name three)(name three) Is Shifting Cultivation a good agriculture? Is Shifting Cultivation a good agriculture?

Explain?Explain?

ReferencesReferences http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/006/V8380E/http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/006/V8380E/

V8380E00.HTM#TopOfPageV8380E00.HTM#TopOfPage http://library.thinkquest.org/26634/forest/farming/shiftcult.htmhttp://library.thinkquest.org/26634/forest/farming/shiftcult.htm http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/006/V8380E/V8380E02.htmhttp://www.fao.org/DOCREP/006/V8380E/V8380E02.htm http://www.geocities.com/hamchinpeng/advantage.htmhttp://www.geocities.com/hamchinpeng/advantage.htm

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