Extinction or adaptation? Three decades of change in shifting cultivation in Sarawak, Malaysia

Shifting cultivation is commonly believed to be disappearing in Southeast Asia, but appears relatively persistent in some areas with alternative economic opportunities. This paper analyses how three decades of development have influenced both the decline and persistence of shifting cultivation in Sarawak, Malaysia. Changes in land use and demography are analysed in two Than shifting cultivation communities, which differ in access to markets, off-farm work, and in their proximity to large-scale land development. Although the Sarawak State Government's policies to limit shifting cultivation have not proven effective, introduction of compulsory school attendance, investment in infrastructure and associated access to markets and employment opportunities have gradually changed local livelihoods, now composed of subsistence and commercial fanning, land development and connections to local and international labour markets. Shifting cultivation of hill rice has persisted in both communities despite other economic opportunities and has been maintained for a range of reasons. However, increasing permanent migration of younger people and pressure on land from land development may gradually end shifting cultivation, particularly in more developed areas. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.