Foreword
Shifting cultivation, also known as swidden agriculture, encompasses various land use practices where the same parcel of land undergoes alternating cycles of perennial and annual crops. This approach aims to restore soil productivity and ecological balance, reinforcing its close connection to agroforestry. Although not a major contributor to marketed global food production and largely absent from formal agricultural statistics, shifting cultivation remains a vital source of subsistence for approximately 250 million people worldwide. In academic and policy discussions, the practice often sparks polarized perspectives—some view it as an invaluable system rooted in deep indigenous knowledge, while others criticize it as incompatible with modern agricultural methods. Detractors argue that shifting cultivation does not align with the trend toward agricultural homogenization, potentially overlooking the localized innovations and sustainability principles developed by shifting cultivators.
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Authors
Simons, T.
Publication year
2023
ISBN
978-180062010-0
