Shifting cultivation, also known as slash-and-burn agriculture, is a traditional farming practice in which farmers clear land by cutting and burning vegetation to create fields for crop cultivation.
Some of the advantages of shifting cultivation are
→ Shifting cultivation promotes biodiversity as it allows the forest to regenerate during fallow periods.
→ Burning plant material in shifting cultivation returns nutrients to the soil, enhancing soil fertility.
→ It is a sustainable farming method when practiced in low population density areas, as the land can recover during the fallow period.
→ It can be adapted to suit local conditions and is well-suited for hilly or forested regions.
→ It often requires minimal external inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides.
→ It allows for a variety of crops to be grown in different cycles, diversifying farmers' livelihoods