Question

Which of the following terms are synonymously used for shifting cultivation?
(A) Fazendas
(B) Ladang
(C) Slash and burn agriculture
(D) Milpa
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. (A), (B) and (D) only
• B. (A), (C) and (D) only
• C. (B), (C) and (D) only
• D. (A), (B) and (C) only

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Shifting cultivation is an agricultural practice where a plot of land is cleared, cultivated for a few years, and then abandoned as fertility declines. There are different terms used across the world to describe this method: 

1. Ladang: A term used in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia, referring to swidden or shifting cultivation.
2. Slash and burn agriculture: A widely known method of shifting cultivation where vegetation is cut down and burned as a method of clearing the land for cultivation.
3. Milpa: A term used in Mesoamerica, notably in Mexico and Central America, that refers to a crop-growing system that is based on the same principles as shifting cultivation.

Analysis of Options:

• (A) Fazendas: Refers to large plantations or estates found in Brazil, typically related to coffee or sugarcane plantations, not shifting cultivation.
• (B) Ladang: Correctly associated with shifting cultivation.
• (C) Slash and burn agriculture: Correctly associated with shifting cultivation.
• (D) Milpa: Correctly associated with shifting cultivation.

Conclusion: The terms correctly and synonymously used for shifting cultivation are (B) Ladang, (C) Slash and burn agriculture, and (D) Milpa. Therefore, the correct answer is: (B), (C) and (D) only

Answer 2

Ladang, Slash and Burn Agriculture, and Milpa are terms synonymously used for shifting cultivation, a form of agriculture where a piece of land is cleared for cultivation by slashing and burning the vegetation. This method is used in tropical and subtropical regions where soil fertility is initially high but quickly diminishes after a few years of use. The farmer then shifts to a new plot of land, allowing the previous one to regenerate. While the practice provides short-term fertility, it can lead to deforestation and soil degradation if not managed sustainably.

• Ladang refers to shifting cultivation in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia, where the land is cleared by burning to grow crops like rice and cassava.
• Slash and Burn Agriculture is a broader term used globally, including in Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of South America, where forests are cut down and burned to prepare the land for farming.
• Milpa is a term used primarily in Central America to describe the agricultural practice where land is cleared for growing maize (corn), beans, and squash, often using the slash-and-burn method.

Fazendas refers to large plantations found in Brazil, typically focused on crops like coffee, sugar, and cotton. These plantations are generally owned by wealthy landowners and often rely on labor-intensive practices. The term "fazenda" is also associated with the colonial-era agricultural system in Brazil, which exploited both land and labor in large-scale agricultural production.