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Swidden farming or shift farming refers to an agricultural system in which fields are cleared, cultivated and fallowed (Vogt, 1999). Globally, farmers have employed this system for the last eight thousand years. It has since then been associated with the shifting patterns in cultivation necessitated by soil exhaustion (Vogt, 1999).
To regenerate soil fertility and exploit nutrients in a natural vegetation soil cover, farmers have to regularly abandon and shift their farming sites. However, despite its widespread use, swidden farming is no longer sustainable in the contemporary societies in most of the developing countries (Vogt, 1999).
Although this farming technique has been efficient in the past, it has proved to be unsustainable with the current increase in the global population (Vogt, 1999).
Beyond a certain population limit, the sustainability of the technique ceases as land productivity fails to meet the ever-increasing population density. Similarly, the increase in population densities in developing countries has resulted in land scarcity as the available land is overused which leads decreased productivity value (Vogt, 1999).
With the destruction of vegetation cover, soil quality is compromised and gradually becomes poor in supporting crop farming. Through cutting, slashing and burning of vegetation cover, destruction of soil nutrients occur (Hirst, 1988). As a result, soil fertility may completely diminish for the preceding vegetation cover.
As illustrated by most communities practicing swidden farming, the technique entails cutting down trees from a virgin land (Hirst, 1988). Thereafter, the trees are used for charcoal production. In the subsequent year, the piece of land is set on fire to allow the growth of grass for cattle.
Through this process, large-scale soil erosion is usually unavoidable as there are no plant roots to provide support to the soil (Hirst, 1988). Consequently, water will eventually wash away the few remaining nutrients from the soil. Due to these negative impacts on the soil, shifting farming has ceased to be sustainable as it productivity cannot support the ever increasing human population.
Ultimately, the shifting of land ownership from community to individuals will eventually face out shifting farming, as there will be considerably limited land available for these practices (Ballard, 2009). Individual land ownership allows the subdivision of land into small portions owned by individuals or private ventures.
These small portions will necessitate innovative farming techniques to maximize and increase productivity. Therefore, as more societies shift to adopt individual land ownership in the near future, the practice of shift farming will slowly turn into an unsustainable farming venture (Ballard, 2009).
The labor and time required in slashing and burning in shift farming is enormous. Coupled with its poor returns, shift farming is currently unsustainable and uneconomical (Ballard, 2009). Instead, farmers should explore other alternative farming techniques to improve on their productivity and economic returns.
Among these preferred alternatives is the adoption of modern farming techniques that allow the production of sufficient food to feed the increasing population. Furthermore, these techniques are environmentally friendly and economically viable (Ballard, 2009).
Globally, climate change has been the main reason for dwindling farm returns. Global warming occurs due to the emission of carbon dioxide and other green house gases. Swidden farming has been blamed as a chief contributor of green house gases (Ballard, 2009).
Thus, the continued use of this system of farming results in numerous adverse effects on the environment. It is evident that swidden farming is not only unsustainable, but also hazardous to the environment.
References
Ballard, C. (2009). Sustainable farming. Mankato, Minn.: Arcturus Pub..
Hirst, J. (1988). Small-scale agriculture. Canberra: Commonwealth Foundation, Commonwealth Geographical Bureau and Dept. of Human Geography.
Vogt, D. (1999). Swidden farming and fallow vegetation in northern Thailand. Stuttgart: Steiner.
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