Labor efficiency and intensity of land use in rice production: an example from Kalimantan

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Hum. Ecol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6977518

Padoch, C

The ''Boserup hypothesis'' contends that land-intensive systems of agriculture will be adopted only when high population density precludes the use of land-extensive methods. In the Kerayan District of East Kalimantan (Indonesia) the Lun Dayeh practice permanent-field rice cultivation despite very low human densities. An examination of the relative labor efficiencies of shifting and permanent-field agriculture in the Kerayan, as well as of local environmental and historical variables, explains why this ''anomalous'' situation exists. It is argued that since relative success in production of rice by shifting- and permanent-field irrigated methods depends on many natural and social conditions other than levels of population density, the ''environment-free'' Boserup hypothesis cannot adequately explain or predict the occurrence of particular forms of rice agriculture.

• Research Organization: Institute of Economic Botany, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY
• OSTI ID: 6977518
• Journal Information: Hum. Ecol.; (United States), Vol. 13:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
AGRICULTURE
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
INDONESIA
LAND USE
RICE
CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES
EFFICIENCY
HUMAN POPULATIONS
IRRIGATION
LABOR
PLANNING
POPULATION DENSITY
POPULATION DYNAMICS
PRODUCTION
ASIA
CEREALS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
GRASS
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
ISLANDS
PLANTS
POPULATIONS
290400* - Energy Planning & Policy- Energy Resources