Aspects of Land Use in Slash and Burn Agriculture

13 Pages Posted: 1 Sep 2003

See all articles by Amitrajeet A. Batabyal

Amitrajeet A. Batabyal

Rochester Institute of Technology

Dug Man Lee

Konkuk University

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: August 2003

Abstract

In this paper we first construct a theoretical model of land use by swidden cultivators when these cultivators can choose whether to grow a cash crop or a food/subsistence crop. Second, we study the land quality accumulation decision faced by shifting cultivators and, in the process, we show how to compute the optimal length of time during which cleared land is to be left fallow. Finally, we investigate the implications that the optimal land quality accumulation decision has for the relative price of the food crop in particular and slash and burn agriculture in general.

Keywords: Cash Crop, Fallow, Food Crop, Land Quality Accumulation, Slash and Burn Agriculture

JEL Classification: Q12, Q24, D81

Suggested Citation

Batabyal, Amitrajeet A. and Lee, Dug Man, Aspects of Land Use in Slash and Burn Agriculture (August 2003). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=437145 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.437145

Amitrajeet A. Batabyal (Contact Author)

Rochester Institute of Technology ( email )

Department of Economics, RIT
92 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY NEW YORK 14623-5604
United States
5853134063 (Phone)
5854755777 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://people.rit.edu/aabgsh

Dug Man Lee

Konkuk University ( email )

380-701 Chungju
Korea

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