Swidden cultivation that continues as the economic as the economic backbones of many upland farming systems in S.E Asia is under mounting pressure to intensify into more permanent forms of land use. Both S.R Vietnam and Lao P.D.R share the challenges posed by mountainous terrain populated by a myriad of diverse ethnic minority groups; sparse road infrastructure and distant markets have limits development of alternative livelihood options and it is estimated 337000 Lao households and up to 3 million Vietnamese rely to some degree on variants of swidden cultivation for their survival.
Publication year
1997
Authors
Keywords
Erosion control, Fallow systems, Hedgerow plants, Learning, Yield losses
