Understanding traditional terracing

Terracing land for rainfed agriculture has long been the basic response of farmers to the problems of cropping in hilly and erosion prone conditions. A comparative study of conservation strategies among traditional, small-scale terrace farmers in Uganda, South Africa, the Indian Himalayas and upland Java has demonstrated striking similarities in their approach and techniques. The main objective of the survey was to understand how different groups of farmers perceived erosion and countered its negative effects which were carried out over a number of years as the opportunity arose in areas with terracing traditions in four different countries. The results show that the farmers have a clear understanding of their problems and their own ideas of how to deal with them. Such information and experiences can further encourage changes in the way soil conservation technologies are perceived and promoted by 'specialists' in different parts of the world.