Sustainable Shifting Cultivation Using Agro-ecology Approach

摘要

Traditional shifting cultivation is a long-standing practice that has contributed to self-sufficiency and self-supply in the lives of mountainous ethnic minorities in the long history. However, it is the direct cause of deforestation; Uncontrolled burning of vegetation is also a major cause of forest fires. At present, Vietnam has about 50 ethnic groups making shifting cultivation. Each ethnic group has its own characteristics in shifting cultivation, which reflects their perceptions, experiences, traditions and religious beliefs. The cycle of cultivation takes place at various stages and follows a very strict cultivation schedule: the main stages of the shifting cultivation cycle are: (i) site selection (in principle, generally select old forests, good soil, few bushes, vines, (iii) clear, (iv) prune(v) care, weed (vi) harvest (vii) abandon. Therefore, the best approach to improving and preserving soil quality is through the use of ecological agricultural practices: reuse of residues of crops and animal derived organic fertilizers, reduced use of chemicals in agriculture, promotion of cover crops, especially legumes, to protect and rehabilitate land. Care should be taken to develop techniques for maximizing biomass, ground cover and continuity of the cover to prevent soil erosion, enhance biological activity, enhance reproductive nutrition, create basic soil properties such as soil texture, organic content, porosity, pH, etc. All these efforts are aimed at creating the best conditions for the growth and development of the crops. Studies show that management of shifting cultivation towards an agro-ecology approach is indispensable in the sustainable management and use of sloping land. This in fact has significantly increased yields on sloping crops, reduced erosion and income diversification for farmers while preserving resources and improving the environment, contributing to hunger elimination and poverty reduction and achievement of food security goals for the mountainous areas.