1 88 SCIENCE IN AFRICA 



The agricultural alternatives to shifting cultivation are dis- 

 cussed in Chapter XIII, but there are certain other measures 

 which involve action by forestry rather than agricultural depart- 

 ments. These may be considered here. 



In shifting cultivation, soil is reconditioned by the growth of 

 natural vegetation after being used for varying periods in the 

 production of agricultural crops. It seems that in the more sparsely 

 inhabited regions where the natural balance is still maintained the 

 periods of fallow are sufficiently long to allow good development 

 of tree growth from suckers, coppice, and seedlings, and old root 

 stocks are not destroyed to any extent during the intervening 

 periods of cultivation. Where the areas available for native 

 cultivation have been restricted, it is necessary to accelerate the 

 natural regeneration of tree growth by planting. For this pur- 

 pose the 'taungya' system of plantation, introduced in Burma 

 many years ago, has recently been applied in modified form in 

 parts of Africa, notably in Nigeria. In Kenya another similar 

 system has been developed, whereby natives are put on to clear 

 and farm the soil first, and the forest department plants useful 

 trees on the same ground as soon as it is vacated by the farmer. 

 It is of course essential that land so planted should not be subjected 

 to new cultivation until the trees are ready for market, and natives 

 are not disposed to submit to the necessary restrictions unless they 

 have large areas in which to practise shifting cultivation without 

 let or hindrance. 



For this and other reasons the taungya system has its opponents 

 among expert foresters in Africa. They claim that taungya is con- 

 trary to all principles of fixed settlement and to planned land 

 utilization which is essential wherever populations are rapidly 

 increasing; and that areas of light population, where the practice 

 of shifting cultivation can be carried on, are usually so far from 

 markets that the establishment of taungya plantations is impossible 

 on economic grounds. In many plac-es virgin forest brought under 

 cultivation is not vacated until the land is reduced practically to 

 a sterile condition. The problem in such areas is one of planting 

 trees in land where grass has replaced forest growth and which is 

 subject to fierce annual firing. It is, therefore, claimed by some 

 experts that plantation on the taungya principle is no remedy for 



