Hoe-farming

"Hoe-farming" is a collective term for certain forms of agriculture. In the farming of some early societies, and in some traditional cultures of the recent times or the near past, the tillage was done with simple manual tools like digging stick or hoe, for example seeding was done manually by making hole for the seeds, putting them inside, then covering them.

The precursor to hoe-farming may be intensive gathering. [Nagy Olivérné & Ortutay Gyula (eds) (1977–1982) (see [http://mek.oszk.hu/02100/02115/html/2-464.html online] in Hungarian)] As for its future, it does not necessarily “become superseded” by applying plough and animal traction, because also ecological factors are very important. [Ökonomische Anthropologie — Fragen (see [http://www.pensis.net/documente/12schriftlichearbeiten_Ethno/oekonomische.anthropologie-Fragen-Luci-250104.pdf online] in German)] Even the prevalence of tsetse fly can matter. Also cultural factors can be considered (for example the local belief system can contain taboos against animal traction).IFAD, Uganda women (see [http://www.ifad.org/gender/learning/sector/agriculture/69.htm online] )]

Hoe-farming often coincides with long fallow systems and shifting cultivation, contrasted to permanent plough-based cultivation systems and the intensification of agriculture. [Pingali & Bigot & Binswanger & 1987 (see [http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2000/04/05/000178830_98101911020037/Rendered/INDEX/multi_page.txt online] )] Hoe-farming may contain slash and burn clearance techniques, but it is not a necessity. [Kienzle 2003 (see [http://www.sarpn.org.za/mitigation_of_HIV_AIDS/m0012/index.php online] )] It is usually embedded in the logic of subsistence agriculture.

Examples

A traditional area of hoe-farming (“Hackbaugürtel”) included Sub-Saharan Africa, India and the Malay Archipelago, middle parts of Americas. [Ziller 1974 (see [http://www.schulgarten.ch/texte/Pflug.pdf online] in German)] Presumably early forms of agriculture were much more widespread in the past, but could remain dominant against the spread of intensive farming mainly in the tropics.

The Isanzu were hoe-farming people (while the neighboring Hadzabe kept on living as hunter-gatherers). [Kohl-Larsen 1956: 13–14]

See also

* Slash and burn
* Subsistence agriculture

Notes

References

* cite web |title=Women's farm implements in Uganda |publisher=International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialized agency of the United Nations |url=http://www.ifad.org/gender/learning/sector/agriculture/69.htm
* cite web |last=Kienzle |first=Josef |title=Labour Saving Technologies and Practices for Farming and Household Activities in Eastern and Southern Africa |conference=Round-Table-Workshop: Mitigation of HIV/AIDS. Impacts through Agriculture and Rural Development — success stories and future actions |location=Pretoria, South Africa |year=2003 |month=May |url=http://www.sarpn.org.za/mitigation_of_HIV_AIDS/m0012/index.php
* The book is a collection of Hadzabe myths about giants, also some tribe myths about culture heroes, and anecdotical tales.
* Title means "Hungarian Ethnological Lexicon", item means “Cultivation”.
* cite web |title=Ökonomische Anthropologie — Fragen |language=German |format=PDF |url=http://www.pensis.net/documente/12schriftlichearbeiten_Ethno/oekonomische.anthropologie-Fragen-Luci-250104.pdf
*
* The title means: "The plough. Historical development and practical application".

External links

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