Most of the things of the world that have advantages always have their disadvantages. To this end in view, a report on Ecological Problems on Shifting Cultivation pointed out some of the disadvantages of Shifting Cultivation to include;
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i. The system of Shifting Cultivation leads to the destruction of forest and in the process, wild plants, medicinal plants and timber is lost.
ii. Destruction of forest results to heavy soil erosion which ends up destroying the soil for crop production or other use.
iii. With population explosion, sooner or later everywhere will soon be taken over by the practice of Shifting Cultivation thereby resulting to degradation or loss of nutrients across without any natural means of replenishing them.
iv. The system involve large scale of deforestation goes a long way in increasing global warming.
v. The system to some consideration is uneconomical since it involves clearing a new land and sometimes moving from one place to another
vi. The system leads to reduction of soil fertility hence the farmer‟s abandons it for another.
vii. The system disturbs the many eco-systems of the region where it is practiced due to the destruction of forest.
viii. Going by the system of Shifting Cultivation, Slash and burn is the usual practice and may cause environmental and economic consequences by reducing the growth potential for crops in certain areas, which limits the variety and quantity of agricultural goods farmers can produce.
ix. The system can only be possible with the availability of land, otherwise it will not be possible x. The system results to low efficiency in labour utilization.
xi. It easily leads to loss of biodiversity
xii. The wild animals loss their shelter through the deforestation process.
xii. Ecology is disturbed and distorted which never restored
76 3.3 Prospects of Shifting Cultivation
Shifting cultivation systems are ecologically viable as long as there is enough land for long (10–
20 years) restorative fallow, and expectations of crop yield and the attendant standards of living are not too high. These systems are naturally suited for harsh environments and fragile ecosystems of the tropics. That is why attempts at finding viable alternatives to shifting cultivation have met with only limited success.
The goal is to restore soil quality, replace what is removed, and respond wisely to what has been changed by natural and anthropogenic perturbations. Payments to farmers for sequestration of carbon and other ecosystem services are good strategies of promoting the adoption of best management practices.
The most attractive feature according to Ecological Report on Shifting Cultivation is that these disadvantages can be managed through:
i. Quality education to help the farmers understand the consequences of shift cultivation and how to manage its use for a better agricultural practice.
ii. Agro forestry otherwise known as taungya which involves growing crops and trees at the same time thus enabling farmers to grow crops and trees at the same time. This method makes it possible that for crops and trees to grow at the same time thereby, preventing soil erosion. crops also benefit from dead organic matter
iii. Shifting Cultivation process also makes it possible for selective logging to be practiced. Through this logs can be provided for wood and as fuel.
iv. The farming method also gives room for certain forest reserves by protecting certain areas from cultivation
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v. Afforestation where cut trees are replaced to maintain the health of canopy is also possible even when Shifting Cultivation has taken place. So the land can still be replaced of its cut forest
vi. Close monitoring by use of advanced technology as well as photography to check any activities that take place hence, ensuring sustainability
vii. Instead of the restriction of the method of Shifting Cultivation, the method can be improved and through this a new variety of crop or commercial trees can be grown as an additional crop which increases soil fertility and reduces soil erosion.
viii. Arable land can also be provided to the tribals or natives for carrying out agriculture and also to settle in the area
ix. Providing employment opportunities and income generation on a regular basis through proper utilization of the land resources, i.e. by equitable distribution of waste land among the tribals. But, the various schemes of the Government, under the tribal plan, will have to pump in sufficient resources for proper reclamation and development of the wasteland through agro-forestry and silvi-pasture practices.
x. By encouraging cooperative efforts for carrying out forest-based activities, i.e. basket making, rope making, cane furniture processing of minor forest produce, honey collection, etc.
have to be made commercially viable by providing proper marketing facilities. This will help the people to be interested in practice of Shifting Cultivation that will also help them monetarily.
xi. Generating employment opportunities during the lean season of forestry operations will also prevent tribals from shifting to other areas. This form of employments could take different forms.
xii. By ensuring implementation of total literacy campaign; which due to remoteness and un-supportive attitude of tribals, has not been successful. For educating tribal women and children,
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services of various non-Governmental organizations and voluntary agencies, besides the regular Government machinery, are on required sustainable basis rather than with a targeted approach.
4.0 Conclusion
The study of the advantages, disadvantages and prospects of Shifting Cultivation revealed that Shifting Cultivation has so many benefits to the farmers in particular and to the eco-system in general. The disadvantages of the farming system are such that discourage the practicing of the system due to its destructive effect to the soil. The Prospects proffer the need for the system of Shifting Cultivation and how the system can be practiced and accommodated in the system without so much of the damages it originally purports to impact.
5.0 Summary
This unit examined the advantages, disadvantages and prospects of the Shifting Cultivation system.
6.0 Tutor-Marked Assignment
i. State five (5) advantages of the practice of shifting cultivation ii. Identify five (5) disadvantages of the practice of shifting cultivation iii. Enumerate five (5) prospects of the practice of shifting cultivation 7.0 References
Crop Husbandry 5.1 Describe the major cropping systems. Presentation transcript. Shifting
Cultivation – the problems Retrieved at:
https://slideplayer.com/slide/4551994/15/images/8/Shifting+cultivation+%E2%80%93+t he+problems.jpg On 20th May, 2020
Ecological problems due to shifting cultivation. Available from:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288180254_Ecological_problems_due_to_shift
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ing_cultivation [accessed Jul 08 2020]..
(PDF) Ecological problems due to shifting cultivation
www.researchgate.net › publication › 288180254_Ecolog. On 23rd June, 2020
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UNIT 5: The Process / Procedure of Carrying Out Shifting Cultivation