Write a geographical account of bush fallowing in West Africa under the following heading: (a) Land preparation (b) Crops (c) Advantages (d) Disadvantages

Bush Fallowing in West Africa

Bush fallowing is a traditional system of farming in which a farmer cultivates a piece of land for a few years and then abandons it to rest while natural vegetation grows again and restores soil fertility.

(a) Land preparation

1. A suitable area of forest or bush is selected and cleared by brushing or cutting down the vegetation.
2. Cutlasses, axes and hoes are the principal tools used.
3. The cut vegetation is left on the ground for some time to dry.
4. The dry vegetation is burnt. The ashes add mineral nutrients, especially potash, to the soil.
5. The farmer removes remaining stumps where necessary and makes mounds or ridges for crops such as yam and cassava.
6. After a few years of cultivation, when yields begin to fall, the plot is left fallow and another plot is cleared. Natural bush then regenerates on the abandoned plot.

(b) Crops grown

The farm commonly contains a mixture of food and cash crops. These include:

• Cereals: maize, millet, rice and guinea corn.
• Root and tuber crops: yam, cassava and cocoyam.
• Legumes and oil crops: beans, groundnut and melon.
• Other food crops: plantain, vegetables and tomatoes.
• Cash crops in suitable areas: cocoa, cotton and groundnut.

(c) Advantages

1. The fallow period enables soil nutrients and organic matter to be replenished naturally.
2. It is cheap to operate because it requires little capital and uses simple implements.
3. Burning helps to destroy weeds, pests and some crop diseases.
4. The ash from burnt vegetation improves soil fertility for a short period.
5. Mixed cropping provides a variety of food crops for the farmer and reduces the risk of complete crop failure.
6. Interplanted crops provide ground cover and help to reduce soil erosion.
7. Weeds are controlled during the clearing and burning operations.

(d) Disadvantages

1. It wastes much land because large areas must be left fallow for long periods.
2. It cannot support a dense population, since population pressure shortens the fallow period and reduces soil fertility.
3. It is labour-intensive, especially during bush clearing, burning and mound making.
4. Farm holdings are usually small and yields are generally low.
5. It does not encourage mechanisation or large-scale commercial farming.
6. Repeated burning destroys humus and soil organisms and may hasten soil deterioration and erosion.
7. Economic trees and useful forest resources may be destroyed during clearing and burning.