Shifting cultivation is a mode of farming long followed in the humid tropics of Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America . In the practice of “slash and burn”, farmers would cut the native vegetation and burn it, then plant crops in the exposed, ash-fertilized soil for two or three seasons in succession.
What region is shifting cultivation found in?
The agricultural system of shifting cultivation, which has been practiced for centuries in most of the tropics, is still prevalent in West Africa .
In which regions is shifting cultivation A prominent form of agriculture?
Shifting cultivation is a prominent form of agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa .
What are the types of shifting cultivation?
The different forms of shifting cultivation described include slash-and-burn type of shifting cultivation , the chitemene system, the Hmong system, shifting cultivation cycle in the Orinoco floodplain, the slash-mulch system, and the plough-in-slash system.
What is an example of shifting cultivation?
Shifting cultivation is an example of arable, subsistence and extensive farming . It is the traditional form of agriculture in the rainforest. ... The land is then farmed for 2-3 years before the Indians move on to another area of the rainforest. This allows the area of rainforest to recover.
What are the features of shifting cultivation?
- Rotation of fields.
- Use of fire for clearing the land.
- Keeping the land fallow for regeneration for a number of years.
- Use of human labour as main input.
- Non-employment of draught animals.
Is shifting cultivation good or bad?
The shifting cultivation is considered devastating and disadvantageous as it not only cause harm to the ecosystem but also exerts negative impacts on economy. On the contrary, many studies concluded that tribals or practitioners of shifting cultivation are part of conservation.
What is the process of shifting cultivation?
Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which a person uses a piece of land, only to abandon or alter the initial use a short time later. This system often involves clearing of a piece of land followed by several years of wood harvesting or farming until the soil loses fertility .
What is the another name of shifting cultivation?
Swidden agriculture , also known as shifting cultivation, refers to a technique of rotational farming in which land is cleared for cultivation (normally by fire) and then left to regenerate after a few years.
How do you control shifting cultivation?
Control of shifting cultivation will require an approach that includes a variety of programmes. Some shifting cultivation may still continue. Competencies in soil conservation, agronomy, horticulture, forestry, and processing industries are needed and a new multi-disciplinary department may be created.
What are the main features of cultivation?
- Subsistence agriculture: Most parts of India have subsistence agriculture. ...
- Pressure of population on agriculture: ...
- Importance of animals: ...
- Dependent upon Monsoon: ...
- Variety of crops: ...
- Predominance of food crops: ...
- Insignificant place to given fodder crops: ...
- Seasonal pattern:
What is shifting cultivation simple?
Shifting agriculture is a system of cultivation in which a plot of land is cleared and cultivated for a short period of time, then abandoned and allowed to revert to producing its normal vegetation while the cultivator moves on to another plot.
What is shifting cultivation Class 8?
Answer: Shifting cultivation is also known as Slash-and-burn cultivation. It is a type of farming activity which involves clearing of a land plot by cutting down trees and burning them . The ashes are then mixed with the soil and crops are grown. After the land has lost its fertility, it is abandoned.
What are the benefits of shifting cultivation?
In the shifting cultivation the growth of the crops will start fast and in the sometimes only it will get ready for the harvest . In shifting of the cultivation there is no any fear or the danger for the flood and the animals which destroy the crops.
What are the problems of shifting cultivation?
Challenges to shifting cultivation include unseasonal and erratic rainfall , reduction in duration of fallow period due to pressure on land, reduction in yields due to decline in soil fertility, lack of interest among the younger generation in practicing it among others.
What are the merits and demerits of shifting cultivation?
Simple growing method, small investment, no need of animal labour power, reduce incidences of soil borne disease and pest management are the main beneficial aspects on one side whereas on the other side, destroying habitats of wild animals, taking our life element: oxygen, large-scale deforestation and soil and ...
