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Will the Exodus of Young People Bring an End to Swidden Farming as a Major Forest Use in SE Asia?

Author

Listed:
  • Shintia Arwida

    (Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Ratih Dewayanti

    (AKATIGA, Bandung 40134, Indonesia)

  • Wanggi Jaung

    (Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea)

  • Agni Klintuni Boedhihartono

    (Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Jeffrey Sayer

    (Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

Abstract

Swidden agriculture has been practiced historically by communities in SE Asia, but as the population grows and other land uses expand, the areas available to swidden farmers are decreasing. Government environmental policies discriminate against swidden farming. Opportunities for off-farm employment are increasing, and this is attracting young people to abandon swidden farming. We explored the link between access to land and migration in three forest landscapes in Indonesia, Lao, and Vietnam. We analyzed the impacts of the push factors within the swidden systems and the pull factors from non-agricultural activities on young people’s decisions to migrate or continue in swidden agriculture. We found that stable cash incomes from non-farm jobs were a major driver of young people’s out-migration. Other factors included the desire to have broader experience, better education, as well as peer influences. We also found that land was becoming less accessible to young swidden farmers, but this was not a major reason to migrate as suggested by many studies. Government and private sector investments in plantations, mining, or infrastructure are reducing land availability. Government restrictions on land clearing also reduce areas available for swidden farming.

Suggested Citation

  • Shintia Arwida & Ratih Dewayanti & Wanggi Jaung & Agni Klintuni Boedhihartono & Jeffrey Sayer, 2024. "Will the Exodus of Young People Bring an End to Swidden Farming as a Major Forest Use in SE Asia?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:13:p:5302-:d:1419868
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ben White, 2012. "Agriculture and the Generation Problem: Rural Youth, Employment and the Future of Farming," IDS Bulletin, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 43(6), pages 9-19, November.
    2. Jakobsen, Jens & Rasmussen, Kjeld & Leisz, Stephen & Folving, Rikke & Quang, Nguyen Vinh, 2007. "The effects of land tenure policy on rural livelihoods and food sufficiency in the upland village of Que, North Central Vietnam," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 94(2), pages 309-319, May.
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