agriculture review
by aditya abhishek
Ladang agriculture is another name for shifting cultivation in Indonesia & Malaysia. Shifting cultivation is also known as the "Slash and Burn" agriculture system.
In shifting cultivation, farmers cut the native vegetation and burn them. After they get converted to ash, farmers plant crops for two to three seasons.
Ash acts as a natural fertilizer which helps crops to grow. Once the cropping period is over, farmers shift in search of another location and return to the land once natural vegetation regrows.
Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Africa, India, etc. are the prominent regions of Ladang or shifting cultivation.
Shifting cultivation helps in soil fertility renewal, biodiversity conservation, requires no external inputs such as fertilizers, and has low environmental effect.
However, shifting cultivation can lead to deforestation, carbon emissions, low productivity, unpredictable yields, etc.
thanks for reading!