In which region is slash-and-burn agriculture commonly practiced as subsistence farming?

In which region is slash-and-burn agriculture commonly practiced as subsistence farming?

• A. The Sahel region
• B. The Amazon Basin
• C. The Great Plains
• D. The Himalayan foothills

Answer: (B)

Slash-and-burn agriculture is a traditional method commonly practiced in tropical regions where farmers clear a piece of forest or vegetation by cutting it down and burning it. This technique is particularly prevalent in the Amazon Basin due to the area's rich biodiversity and dense forest cover. In the Amazon Basin, farmers use this method as a way to create arable land for subsistence farming. After burning the vegetation, the ash enriches the soil with nutrients, making it fertile for crop growth for a limited duration. This practice is often used by smallholder farmers who depend on this technique for their livelihoods, growing crops like cassava, maize, and beans for local consumption. In contrast, the other regions listed have different agricultural practices suited to their environments. The Sahel region struggles with arid conditions, making slash-and-burn less practical. The Great Plains are known for extensive, mechanized agriculture due to their vast, flat expanses conducive to growing grains, while the Himalayan foothills typically engage in terrace farming or the cultivation of cash crops.

Slash-and-burn agriculture is a traditional method commonly practiced in tropical regions where farmers clear a piece of forest or vegetation by cutting it down and burning it. This technique is particularly prevalent in the Amazon Basin due to the area's rich biodiversity and dense forest cover.

In the Amazon Basin, farmers use this method as a way to create arable land for subsistence farming. After burning the vegetation, the ash enriches the soil with nutrients, making it fertile for crop growth for a limited duration. This practice is often used by smallholder farmers who depend on this technique for their livelihoods, growing crops like cassava, maize, and beans for local consumption.

In contrast, the other regions listed have different agricultural practices suited to their environments. The Sahel region struggles with arid conditions, making slash-and-burn less practical. The Great Plains are known for extensive, mechanized agriculture due to their vast, flat expanses conducive to growing grains, while the Himalayan foothills typically engage in terrace farming or the cultivation of cash crops.