Monitoring of shifting cultivation fields in a Karen area of the Bago Mountains Myanmar

Takeda S., . and Suzuki R., . and Hla M.T., . (2008) Monitoring of shifting cultivation fields in a Karen area of the Bago Mountains Myanmar. [Proceedings Paper]

A field survey was conducted in SN village in the Bago Division of Myanmar. Through GPS mapping interviews and participant observation the present state of shifting cultivation in a Karen area by focusing on the vegetation in fallow lands and fallow period lengths were examined. In 2002 59 households HHs opened 60 plots for shifting cultivation. The village itself covered an area of 3970.62 ha A. The 60 plots covered 161.46 ha B1 corresponding to an average plot size of 2.69 ha. In 2003 62 HHs opened 65 plots for shifting cultivation which covered 141.10 ha B2 corresponding with an average plot size of 2.17 ha. In 2004 74 HHs opened 75 plots for shifting cultivation with an aggregate area of 179.91 ha B3 with an average plot size of 2.40 ha. Based on these figures the potential maximum numbers of fallow years were 24.6 A/B1 for 2002 28.1 A/B2 for 2003 and 22.1 A/B3 for 2004. During the first fallow year the land was covered with Eupatorium odoratum which was replaced by bamboo Bambusa polymorpha and Bambusa tulda over several years. After 12 years tree species such as Xylia xylocarpa gradually dominated the fallow lands. Despite the potential fallow periods the actual fallow periods were only 17.9 years in 2002 15.1 years in 2003 and 12.8 years in 2004. The difference in the composition occurred because the variation 12-18 years in fallow period and types of specimen colonizing the areas. These lands can be easily cleared and provide good burning material for shifting cultivation.

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Abstract

A field survey was conducted in SN village in the Bago Division of Myanmar. Through GPS mapping interviews and participant observation the present state of shifting cultivation in a Karen area by focusing on the vegetation in fallow lands and fallow period lengths were examined. In 2002 59 households HHs opened 60 plots for shifting cultivation. The village itself covered an area of 3970.62 ha A. The 60 plots covered 161.46 ha B1 corresponding to an average plot size of 2.69 ha. In 2003 62 HHs opened 65 plots for shifting cultivation which covered 141.10 ha B2 corresponding with an average plot size of 2.17 ha. In 2004 74 HHs opened 75 plots for shifting cultivation with an aggregate area of 179.91 ha B3 with an average plot size of 2.40 ha. Based on these figures the potential maximum numbers of fallow years were 24.6 A/B1 for 2002 28.1 A/B2 for 2003 and 22.1 A/B3 for 2004. During the first fallow year the land was covered with Eupatorium odoratum which was replaced by bamboo Bambusa polymorpha and Bambusa tulda over several years. After 12 years tree species such as Xylia xylocarpa gradually dominated the fallow lands. Despite the potential fallow periods the actual fallow periods were only 17.9 years in 2002 15.1 years in 2003 and 12.8 years in 2004. The difference in the composition occurred because the variation 12-18 years in fallow period and types of specimen colonizing the areas. These lands can be easily cleared and provide good burning material for shifting cultivation.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	4 ill. 4 ref.
AGROVOC Term:	SHIFTING CULTIVATION
AGROVOC Term:	AGROFORESTRY
AGROVOC Term:	FALLOW SYSTEMS
AGROVOC Term:	GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS
AGROVOC Term:	CARTOGRAPHY
AGROVOC Term:	MYANMAR
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:26
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/15574

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