Uffe, Nielsen and Ole, Mertz and Gabriel Tonga, Noweg (2006) The Rationality of Shifting Cultivation Systems: Labor Productivity Revisited. Human Ecology, 34 (2). pp. 201-218. ISSN 1572-9915
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Abstract
This paper reviews the theoretical and empirical literature on labor productivity in shifting cultivation systems, and relationships between labor productivity and production parameters are analyzed in two case studies of Iban communities in Sarawak, Malaysia, during two farming seasons. In addition, the labor productivity in shifting cultivation compared to off-farm wage labor opportunities is explored. Establishing firm relationships between labor productivity and production parameters, such as fallow length, fertilizer use, and herbicide use was not possible. We are thus unable to verify or reject the thesis that more labor is required for managing fields after short fallow compared to long fallow periods. We do demonstrate that shifting cultivation of hill rice can compete economically with common off-farm employment opportunities, and conclude that farmers’ decisions to maintain their practices is based as much on economic rationales as on tradition.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | fallow; Sarawak; swidden; slash and burn; labor productivity, research, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, unimas, university, universiti, Borneo, Malaysia, Sarawak, Kuching, Samarahan, ipta, education |
| Subjects: | S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) |
| Divisions: | Academic Faculties, Institutes and Centres > Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation Faculties, Institutes, Centres > Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation |
| Depositing User: | Karen Kornalius |
| Date Deposited: | 09 Jun 2016 01:52 |
| Last Modified: | 09 Jun 2016 01:52 |
| URI: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/12272 |
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