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Effects of local farming practices on soil degradation in the Raumoco Watershed, Timor-Leste
Thesis Abstract:
Timor-Leste is currently battling the effects of soil degradation that resulted from a long history of sociopolitical unrest, followed by decades of poor land utilization and unhealthy farming practices. As a step toward ameliorating the presently deplorable conditions, this study was conducted to provide baseline information on the state of soil health in the Raumuco Watershed. Additionally, with the recognition that the success of any future efforts targeted to improve soil health requires the full and sustainable participation of communities, baseline data on the socioeconomic characteristics of farming communities were also studied. The relationship of soil health and the farmers’ farming practices were investigated to identify the best avenues for adjustments and potential policy recommendation. Results of the study showed that soil physical properties in the watershed were characterized by high bulk density, poor porosity, and low organic matter content. In areas where slash-and-burn was practiced, soil pH remained neutral, nitrogen was low but close to optimum level in the upstream and the midstream areas, but very low in downstream farming areas. On the other hand, phosphorus was extremely high in the upstream but very low in midstream and downstream zones. Potassium remained low but close to optimum level in the entire watershed regardless of landscape position. In areas where free grazing is practiced, soil pH remained neutral but with very low nitrogen and potassium levels in the entire watershed. In contrast, phosphorus was very high in the upstream but very low in midstream and downstream areas. Key socioeconomic factors that appeared to directly influence farming practices include the farmers’ big family sizes (5–8 members), low literacy levels, and very low incomes. Their source of energy also remained to be wood, and therefore, firewood gathering and livestock-raising were the most common alternative sources of livelihood. Correlating the farming practices and the socioeconomic variables, slash-and-burn practices exhibited the strongest positive relationship with soil degradation, while free grazing demonstrates moderate correlation. This indicated that between these two farming practices, free grazing resulted in fewer soil health problems than slash-and-burn methods. Hence, if the goal was to restore soil health in as fast a timeline as possible, cutting down or totally eliminating slash-and-burn farming among communities in the Raumuco Watershed must be the focus of policy recommendations. As an alternative, farmers may focus their efforts more toward raising livestock for their livelihood. This approach will, however, result in several problems. First, this will result in food security concerns. Second, and more importantly, because raising livestock was also shown to deliver lower economic returns compared to growing crops, farmers will naturally resist a total ban on slash-and-burning farming. Therefore, policy recommendations must focus more on encouraging, enabling, and providing support for traditional farmers to shift to more conservative farming practices such as the Sloping Agricultural Land Technology and other improved farming methods.