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Title - RURAL GEOGRAPHY - SHIFTING CULTIVATION - RURAL GEOGRAPHY - SHIFTING CULTIVATION.

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Title - RURAL GEOGRAPHY - - RURAL GEOGRAPHY - SHIFTING CULTIVATION SHIFTING CULTIVATION
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Title

- RURAL GEOGRAPHY -- RURAL GEOGRAPHY -

SHIFTING CULTIVATIONSHIFTING CULTIVATION

- RURAL GEOGRAPHY -- RURAL GEOGRAPHY -

SHIFTING CULTIVATIONSHIFTING CULTIVATION

Main learning outcomes: you should…Main learning outcomes: you should…Main learning outcomes: you should…Main learning outcomes: you should…

• be able to describe the main be able to describe the main featuresfeatures of this of this type of farming, including the type of farming, including the crops growncrops grown, , the the level of technologylevel of technology used and the main used and the main activitiesactivities throughout the year. throughout the year.

• be able to describe and explain the be able to describe and explain the settlementsettlement patternpattern and the and the population densitypopulation density..

• be familiar with the be familiar with the changeschanges occurring in occurring in areas of shifting cultivation and the impact of areas of shifting cultivation and the impact of these changes on the people and the these changes on the people and the landscape.landscape.

• be able to describe the main be able to describe the main featuresfeatures of this of this type of farming, including the type of farming, including the crops growncrops grown, , the the level of technologylevel of technology used and the main used and the main activitiesactivities throughout the year. throughout the year.

• be able to describe and explain the be able to describe and explain the settlementsettlement patternpattern and the and the population densitypopulation density..

• be familiar with the be familiar with the changeschanges occurring in occurring in areas of shifting cultivation and the impact of areas of shifting cultivation and the impact of these changes on the people and the these changes on the people and the landscape.landscape.

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

One of the most primitive form of farming One of the most primitive form of farming found on the earth, Shifting Agriculture still found on the earth, Shifting Agriculture still

supports over 300 million people.supports over 300 million people.

This type of farming has probably existed for over This type of farming has probably existed for over 10,000 years and was once very widespread – even 10,000 years and was once very widespread – even

found in stone-age Europe. found in stone-age Europe.

Largely replaced by Largely replaced by sedentarysedentary or fixed farming, it is or fixed farming, it is now in danger of disappearing altogether. It is now now in danger of disappearing altogether. It is now

found mainly in equatorial rainforest areas.found mainly in equatorial rainforest areas.

Equator

Tropic of Capricorn

Tropic of Cancer

Central Africa

Indonesia and PNG.

Amazon Basin

Global Distribution of Shifting CultivationGlobal Distribution of Shifting Cultivation

Around the World…Around the World…Around the World…Around the World…

• Shifting cultivation is also known as:-Shifting cultivation is also known as:-

• Slash and Burn;Slash and Burn;oror• Ladang (Malaysia)Ladang (Malaysia)• Roca (Brazil);Roca (Brazil);• Masole (Congo)Masole (Congo)• Milpa (Mexico)Milpa (Mexico)

• This presentation looks at examples from This presentation looks at examples from the Amazon Basin and Papua New Guineathe Amazon Basin and Papua New Guinea

• Shifting cultivation is also known as:-Shifting cultivation is also known as:-

• Slash and Burn;Slash and Burn;oror• Ladang (Malaysia)Ladang (Malaysia)• Roca (Brazil);Roca (Brazil);• Masole (Congo)Masole (Congo)• Milpa (Mexico)Milpa (Mexico)

• This presentation looks at examples from This presentation looks at examples from the Amazon Basin and Papua New Guineathe Amazon Basin and Papua New Guinea

Types of Shifting CultivationTypes of Shifting CultivationTypes of Shifting CultivationTypes of Shifting Cultivation

• Shifting Cultivation proper;Shifting Cultivation proper;

• Permanent village, shifting cultivated areas; Permanent village, shifting cultivated areas;

• Rotational bush fallowing.Rotational bush fallowing.

• Shifting Cultivation proper;Shifting Cultivation proper;

• Permanent village, shifting cultivated areas; Permanent village, shifting cultivated areas;

• Rotational bush fallowing.Rotational bush fallowing.

Shifting Cultivation proper…Shifting Cultivation proper…

• In Shifting Cultivation in its purest form, clearings are made in the forest, used for two to five years to grow food, then abandoned and a new clearing created. This is repeated, with the village eventually returning to the original site after 25 years or more – or maybe never.

• Such frequent moves are necessary because the soil quickly loses its fertility and crops will start to fail after only a few years.

• Abandoned clearings will be reclaimed by the forest and gradually the soil fertility will recover.

• In Shifting Cultivation in its purest form, clearings are made in the forest, used for two to five years to grow food, then abandoned and a new clearing created. This is repeated, with the village eventually returning to the original site after 25 years or more – or maybe never.

• Such frequent moves are necessary because the soil quickly loses its fertility and crops will start to fail after only a few years.

• Abandoned clearings will be reclaimed by the forest and gradually the soil fertility will recover.

…Shifting village and cultivation

…permanent village, shifting cultivation …permanent village, shifting cultivation

• This variation is probably more common, particularly in Africa.

• In this system, the village remains in one place and the farmed clearing is changed every few years. The old clearing is left “fallow” or rested.

• This system is found where the population is permanent, the total land available may be less and where population densities may be higher.

• This variation is probably more common, particularly in Africa.

• In this system, the village remains in one place and the farmed clearing is changed every few years. The old clearing is left “fallow” or rested.

• This system is found where the population is permanent, the total land available may be less and where population densities may be higher.

…permanent village: shifting cultivation

1

2

3

4

5

6

Village

……rotational bushrotational bush fallowingfallowing……rotational bushrotational bush fallowingfallowing

• As population pressure increases and the amount As population pressure increases and the amount of available land decreases, the land around the of available land decreases, the land around the village is used continuously.village is used continuously.

• This often leads to rapid exhaustion of the soil, This often leads to rapid exhaustion of the soil, particularly if animal manure or other fertilisers particularly if animal manure or other fertilisers are not usedare not used..

……rotational bush fallowingrotational bush fallowing ……rotational bush fallowingrotational bush fallowing

1

2

3

4

5

6

Village

Continuously cultivated Continuously cultivated area around villagearea around village

Continuously cultivated Continuously cultivated area around villagearea around village

Outer clearings Outer clearings farmed in rotationfarmed in rotation

Outer clearings Outer clearings farmed in rotationfarmed in rotation

Population Density and Settlement PatternPopulation Density and Settlement Pattern

Because of the large area of Because of the large area of forest required with all of forest required with all of these moves, the overall these moves, the overall

population density is very population density is very low – often less than 1 low – often less than 1

person per sq.km.person per sq.km.

The settlement pattern is The settlement pattern is disperseddispersed or or scattered.scattered.

The ClimateThe Climate

• Most shifting cultivation is found in areas of Most shifting cultivation is found in areas of Equatorial Equatorial climate.climate.

• Here the sun is overhead, or almost overhead Here the sun is overhead, or almost overhead for the whole year, bringing consistently high for the whole year, bringing consistently high daily temperatures.daily temperatures.

• The typical daily weather pattern is of The typical daily weather pattern is of increasing humidity and heavy afternoon increasing humidity and heavy afternoon thunderstorms, caused by thunderstorms, caused by convectionalconvectional rainrain..

• Most shifting cultivation is found in areas of Most shifting cultivation is found in areas of Equatorial Equatorial climate.climate.

• Here the sun is overhead, or almost overhead Here the sun is overhead, or almost overhead for the whole year, bringing consistently high for the whole year, bringing consistently high daily temperatures.daily temperatures.

• The typical daily weather pattern is of The typical daily weather pattern is of increasing humidity and heavy afternoon increasing humidity and heavy afternoon thunderstorms, caused by thunderstorms, caused by convectionalconvectional rainrain..

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

J F M A M J JL A S O N D

Months

Ra

infa

ll (m

m)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30T

em

p.ºC

Climate Graph for Iquitos, Amazon Basin, Peru (3½ ºS)Climate Graph for Iquitos, Amazon Basin, Peru (3½ ºS)

Temperature is high all year – above 25º C – and

varies very little from month to month.

Rainfall is abundant all year, with most areas

receiving around 2000mm annually -

about the same as the west of Scotland!

This combination of warmth and moisture creates twelve months of perfect growing conditions for plants – Rainforest is the result

The farming landscape and The farming landscape and the people…the people…

Main features…Main features…

• This is This is subsistence farmingsubsistence farming – only providing enough – only providing enough for the group, with little or nothing left to sell.for the group, with little or nothing left to sell.

• It is It is extensiveextensive farming i.e. it covers a large area of farming i.e. it covers a large area of land;land;

• The technology level is very The technology level is very lowlow – all work is done – all work is done by hand, with only a few basic tools.by hand, with only a few basic tools.

• This type of farming is This type of farming is sustainable sustainable or or eco-friendlyeco-friendly – – it does it does nono lasting harmlasting harm to the forest environment, as to the forest environment, as long as the clearings are given enough time to long as the clearings are given enough time to recover their fertility.recover their fertility.

In the top diagram the fallow period is long enough to allow the soil In the top diagram the fallow period is long enough to allow the soil to recover its nutrients: in the lower one the land is returned to to recover its nutrients: in the lower one the land is returned to

farming too soon and it quickly loses its fertility. farming too soon and it quickly loses its fertility.

A

Here we see a communal Here we see a communal YanomamiYanomami house house ((MalocaMaloca) in a rainforest clearing…) in a rainforest clearing…

Here we see a communal Here we see a communal YanomamiYanomami house house ((MalocaMaloca) in a rainforest clearing…) in a rainforest clearing…

Such settlements Such settlements usually house about usually house about 20 – 100 people.20 – 100 people.

Many of these Many of these groups have had no groups have had no contact with the contact with the modern world.modern world.

Many of these Many of these groups have had no groups have had no contact with the contact with the modern world.modern world.

The design varies between different tribal groups…The design varies between different tribal groups…

A A GuaraniGuarani tribe version tribe versionA A BoroBoro tribe tribe MalocaMaloca

In Papua New In Papua New Guinea a house is Guinea a house is built in a few built in a few hours…hours…

The final roof The final roof covering goes covering goes on…on…

Inside, the houses are extremely basic.Inside, the houses are extremely basic.

Yanomami Yanomami – one of the Amazon – one of the Amazon hunter gatherer hunter gatherer tribes who also practice shifting cultivation.tribes who also practice shifting cultivation.

A Yanomami family in their Maloca.A Yanomami family in their Maloca.

Two members of the Two members of the Mati Mati tribe (cat people)…only recently tribe (cat people)…only recently “discovered” by the outside world.“discovered” by the outside world.

Although they may look Although they may look a bit primitive to us, a bit primitive to us,

these people are able to these people are able to live in a very tough live in a very tough environment, where environment, where

soft westerners like us soft westerners like us wouldn’t last long.wouldn’t last long.

……some some MatiMati boys go to boys go to school - part of a school - part of a government government development development programme for the programme for the native native Amerindian Amerindian tribes.tribes.

Main activities…Main activities…

Slash and Burn - Slash and Burn - first the forest is cleared – by hand…first the forest is cleared – by hand…

Who needs matches? … making fire with two sticks … Who needs matches? … making fire with two sticks …

..the cut down trees are allowed to dry for three ..the cut down trees are allowed to dry for three months or so, then burned, in small, controlled fires.months or so, then burned, in small, controlled fires.

Ground clearance is very hard work, so many Ground clearance is very hard work, so many stumps, branches and roots are left.stumps, branches and roots are left.

Ground clearance is very hard work, so many Ground clearance is very hard work, so many stumps, branches and roots are left.stumps, branches and roots are left.

The burned wood adds ash (a natural fertiliser) to the soil.The burned wood adds ash (a natural fertiliser) to the soil.The burned wood adds ash (a natural fertiliser) to the soil.The burned wood adds ash (a natural fertiliser) to the soil.

However, the torrential rains cause rapid However, the torrential rains cause rapid leachingleaching of the already poor soils, washing vital minerals of the already poor soils, washing vital minerals

out of the soil and reducing its fertility. This is why out of the soil and reducing its fertility. This is why the clearings are only used for a few years.the clearings are only used for a few years.

Unless the land is left Unless the land is left fallowfallow (rested) to recover (rested) to recover these nutrients, it will be permanently degraded.these nutrients, it will be permanently degraded.

LEACHING by rain.


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