Title

- RURAL GEOGRAPHY -- RURAL GEOGRAPHY -

SHIFTING CULTIVATIONSHIFTING CULTIVATION

- RURAL GEOGRAPHY -- RURAL GEOGRAPHY -

SHIFTING CULTIVATIONSHIFTING CULTIVATION

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

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

• be able to describe the main be able to describe the main featuresfeatures of this type of farming, including the of this 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 population densitydensity..

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

• be able to describe the main be able to describe the main featuresfeatures of this type of farming, including the of this 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 population densitydensity..

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

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

One of the most primitive form of farming One of the most primitive form of farming found on the earth, Shifting Agriculture found on the earth, Shifting Agriculture still supports over 300 thousand people.still supports over 300 thousand people.

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

widespread – even found in stone-age widespread – even found in stone-age Europe.Europe.

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

areas.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 This presentation looks at examples from the Amazon Basin and Papua from the Amazon Basin and Papua New GuineaNew 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 This presentation looks at examples from the Amazon Basin and Papua from the Amazon Basin and Papua New GuineaNew Guinea

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

• Shifting Cultivation proper;Shifting Cultivation proper;

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

• Rotational bush fallowingRotational bush fallowing..

• Shifting Cultivation proper;Shifting Cultivation proper;

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

• Rotational bush fallowingRotational bush fallowing..

Shifting Cultivation proper…Shifting Cultivation proper…

• 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 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

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2

3

4

5

6

Village

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

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

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

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

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2

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5

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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 Population Density and Settlement PatternSettlement Pattern

Because of the large Because of the large area of forest area of forest

required with all of required with all of these moves, the these moves, the overall population overall population

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

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

The settlement The settlement pattern is pattern is disperseddispersed

or or scatteredscattered..

The ClimateThe Climate

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

• Here the sun is overhead, or almost Here the sun is overhead, or almost overhead for the whole year, bringing overhead for the whole year, bringing consistently high daily temperatures.consistently high 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 Most shifting cultivation is found in areas of of Equatorial Equatorial climate.climate.

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

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

Months

Ra

infa

ll (m

m)

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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 The farming landscape and the landscape and the

people…people…

Main features…Main features…

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

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

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

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

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

returned to farming too soon and it quickly loses its fertility.returned to 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 usually house about 20 – 100 about 20 – 100 people.people.

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

Many of these Many of these groups have had groups have had no contact with no contact with the modern the modern world.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 Guinea a house is built in a few is built in a few hours…hours…

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

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

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

cultivation.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)…tribe (cat people)…only recently “discovered” by the outside only recently “discovered” by the outside

world.world.

Although they may Although they may look a bit primitive look a bit primitive to us, these people to us, these people are able to live in a are able to live in a

very tough very tough environment, where environment, where soft westerners like soft westerners like

us wouldn’t last us wouldn’t last long.long.

……some some MatiMati boys go boys go to school - part of a to 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 first the forest is cleared – by hand…hand…

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

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

controlled fires.controlled fires.

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

left.left.

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

left.left.

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

However, the torrential rains cause rapid However, the torrential rains cause rapid leachingleaching of the already poor soils, washing of the already poor soils, washing vital minerals out of the soil and reducing vital minerals out of the soil and reducing its fertility. This is why the clearings are its fertility. This is why the clearings are

only used for a few years.only used for a few years.

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

permanently degraded.permanently degraded.

LEACHING by rain.

In this In this Chagra, Chagra, a a

garden garden rather than a rather than a field, field, maize maize seeds are seeds are

being being planted planted amongst amongst

SweetSweet PotatoPotato (Papua New (Papua New

Guinea).Guinea).

The plants grow quickly in the warm, wet The plants grow quickly in the warm, wet climate.climate.

A Chagra, in its first year.

Taro, similar to Taro, similar to Sweet potato,Sweet potato, nearly ready for nearly ready for lifting.lifting.Taro, similar to Taro, similar to Sweet potato,Sweet potato, nearly ready for nearly ready for lifting.lifting.

ManiocManioc – – probably the probably the singlesingle most most important important crop…crop…

……its roots its roots providing providing carbohydratecarbohydrate-rich -rich CassavaCassava flour flour (Tapioca).(Tapioca).

Simple fences to keep out wild and domestic Simple fences to keep out wild and domestic animals…animals…

Maize Maize (corn) may be (corn) may be grown where the grown where the soils are richer.soils are richer.

Papaya Papaya and other and other fruits form an fruits form an important part of important part of the diet.the diet.

Sugar caneSugar cane may may sweeten an otherwise sweeten an otherwise bland diet.bland diet.

Banana Banana provides provides important minerals important minerals such as Potassiumsuch as Potassium

• YamsYams• TobaccoTobacco• CocaCoca• MangoesMangoes• BeansBeans

Other crops may Other crops may includeinclude……

Domesticated animals such as pigs and chickens Domesticated animals such as pigs and chickens may also be kept.may also be kept.

Meat is usually Meat is usually hunted in the hunted in the forest … monkey, forest … monkey, tapir..tapir..

The forest also supplies The forest also supplies the people with fruit, the people with fruit, berries, medicines, berries, medicines, poisons and drugs...and, poisons and drugs...and, of course, fish from the of course, fish from the rivers add important rivers add important protein.protein.

After a few years, the crops start to fail After a few years, the crops start to fail and the clearing is abandoned – to be and the clearing is abandoned – to be

reclaimed by the forest.reclaimed by the forest.

Changes 1Changes 1• Shifting cultivation is in danger of disappearing;Shifting cultivation is in danger of disappearing;

• This is due to destruction of large areas of the This is due to destruction of large areas of the rainforest on which this system depends – the rainforest on which this system depends – the area available is rapidly shrinking;area available is rapidly shrinking;

• This is caused by logging companies, cattle This is caused by logging companies, cattle ranchers, gold, diamond and other mineral ranchers, gold, diamond and other mineral hunters & miners, HEP schemes, road building hunters & miners, HEP schemes, road building e.g. Trans Amazon highway and new settlers e.g. Trans Amazon highway and new settlers moving in to the forest;moving in to the forest;

• Population growth is also putting additional Population growth is also putting additional strain on this way of life – particularly in west strain on this way of life – particularly in west Africa.Africa.

Changes 2Changes 2• Some Indian groups have been forced into

reservations or retreated into more remote areas deep in the forest;

• many tribes have suffered from Culture Shock;• There has been violence and intimidation

against these tribes, with many thousands killed by new settlers;

• Thousands have also died due to lack of immunity to “western” diseases such as measles;

• There has been serious water pollution by gold mining, which uses toxic substances such as mercury. This has caused poisoning of rivers and people.

• Some Indian groups have been forced into reservations or retreated into more remote areas deep in the forest;

• many tribes have suffered from Culture Shock;• There has been violence and intimidation

against these tribes, with many thousands killed by new settlers;

• Thousands have also died due to lack of immunity to “western” diseases such as measles;

• There has been serious water pollution by gold mining, which uses toxic substances such as mercury. This has caused poisoning of rivers and people.

In Brazil, for In Brazil, for example, the example, the building of the building of the Trans Trans Amazonian Amazonian HighwayHighway has has opened up the opened up the virgin rainforest virgin rainforest to settlement to settlement and exploitation, and exploitation, often with often with disastrous disastrous consequences consequences for the shifting for the shifting cultivators.cultivators.

Massive deforestation is removing the Massive deforestation is removing the habitat on which shifting cultivation habitat on which shifting cultivation

depends, as here in Brazil.depends, as here in Brazil.

Huge fires now destroy Huge fires now destroy enormous areas in a few enormous areas in a few

hours.hours.

Shifting cultivation is Shifting cultivation is abandoned and abandoned and replaced by large, often replaced by large, often foreign owned schemes.foreign owned schemes.

……such as the such as the Jari ProjectJari Project in the 70s and 80s, with its in the 70s and 80s, with its forestry plantations, cattle ranches, towns and railway forestry plantations, cattle ranches, towns and railway lines.lines.

Thousands of Thousands of garimpeiros, or garimpeiros, or

gold miners, gold miners, devastate an devastate an

area of area of rainforest in a rainforest in a

desperate desperate search for gold.search for gold.

Review of Main pointsReview of Main points• Shifting Cultivation is also known as Shifting Cultivation is also known as slash and slash and

burnburn;;• It is found mostly in the It is found mostly in the equatorial rainforestequatorial rainforest

areas of the world e.g. Amazon, Congo, PNG.areas of the world e.g. Amazon, Congo, PNG.• It has several versions, including It has several versions, including bush bush

fallowing;fallowing;• It is low technology;It is low technology;• It supports a very It supports a very lowlow population density; population density;• Its settlement pattern is Its settlement pattern is dispersed;dispersed;• It is It is subsistence subsistence farming, with little surplus;farming, with little surplus;• It is under threat due to a combination of It is under threat due to a combination of

outside influences. Detailed knowledge of these outside influences. Detailed knowledge of these forces of change is essential.forces of change is essential.

• Slash and burnSlash and burn• Ash for fertiliserAsh for fertiliser

• Subsistence farmingSubsistence farming• Maloca - houseMaloca - house

• Chagra - gardenChagra - garden• Manioc, Sweet Potatoes, BananaManioc, Sweet Potatoes, Banana

• Leaching of soilLeaching of soil• Fallow periodFallow period

• Eco-friendly / sustainableEco-friendly / sustainable

Important TermsImportant Terms