A STUDY ON THE SHIFTING CULTIVATION SYSTEM IN KALAHARI WOODLAND, WESTERN ZAMBIA, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CASSAVA MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The Kalahari Sands found all over southern Africa have been described as not being suitable for agriculture. However, Kalahari woodland developed on the same Kalahari sands of western Zambia and Angolan immigrants who escaped the war settled on the woodland. Their livelihoods are dependent on growing cassava, their staple and cash crop. The cassava grown by the Angolan immigrants on the Kalahari Sands depends on the natural nutrients in the sandy soils. The cultivation system established by the immigrants on rather poor soils is closely related to the social organization of the immigrants. This paper thus examines not only the cultivation system, but also their social organization supporting the system by reciprocal help in the poor environment.