An overview on shifting cultivation with reference to Bangladesh

Abstract

Shifting cultivation is a form of land use among resource poor communities with a rotation of cultivation and fallow in the same unit of land. Millions of indigenous people are dependent on shifting cultivation practice, with majority households for subsistence living. This practice is in transition these days with rising population of shifting cultivators and demand for more food. Bangladesh like other neighboring countries has hills which are subjected to degradation due to deforestation enhanced by shifting cultivation. There has been a continuous debate on shifting cultivation. Soil erosion is in large extent in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) due to faulty cultivation in hill slopes, shifting cultivation, change in land use and reduction of land cover. This paper provides a review on shifting cultivation practice in the world with reference to Bangladesh, with an insight on emerging land use transition, its impacts and future priorities. Key words: Shifting cultivation, biodiversity, fallow, climate change, Bangladesh.