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LAND SELECTION
The land
use methods which are agronomically and environmentally appropriate are
determined first and foremost by the characteristics
and location of the smallholders' fields:
- if
the plots are small and scattered, use of machinery is not possible:
labour-intensive methods are anyway usually more appropriate than capital-intensive
for smallholders;
-
if the land is steep or exposed, wind and water erosion control measures
are essential: these can be costly and are not always easy to install
on an individual farm basis;
-
if the rainfall is low or unreliable, irrigation is necessary: choices
have to be made on the best method of applying and managing irrigation
water;
-
if the area is subject to flooding, drainage and flood control measures
are needed: again costly and not always easy to install on individual
farms;
-
if the fertility of the soils is low, fertilizer applications are needed:
choices have to be made between organic and inorganic methods of enhancing
soil fertility;
-
if the area is subject to build-up of pests and diseases, plant protection
measures have to be taken: choices must be made between biological and
chemical methods of prevention and control.
As
a broad generalization, areas which do not require heavy investments in
agricultural machinery, erosion control, irrigation, drainage, chemical
fertilizer or pest control measures as prerequisites for sustainable land
use are likely to be more appropriate for smallholder cultivation than
those which do require such investments.
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