Better Land Husbandry

This book is a timely contribution towards the debate on the most effective way to bring about sustainable farming in marginal areas. It offers a detailed analysis of the social, economic, and agro-ecological characteristic of both Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) and Better Land Husbandry (BLH) and an analysis of case studies of BLH from Central

Based on the findings of a workshop in Tanzania and Kenya in March 1991, these case studies and reports emphasize the successes, often overlooked, of small rural development projects in east and central Africa.

This book is a timely contribution towards the debate on the most effective way to bring about sustainable farming in marginal areas. It offers a detailed analysis of the social, economic, and agro-ecological characteristic of both Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) and Better Land Husbandry (BLH) and an analysis of case studies of BLH from Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.

Recent years have brought major changes in the approach to land use and land degradation in developing countries. Norman Hudson analyzes these changes and offers fresh responses to the challenges. In addition, he stresses the need for involving the farmer at all stages of planning and implementing programs, for low-cost, low-labor methods, and for greater emphasis on sound land use and farming methods that rely less on engineering-based soil conservation.

In the tropics most of the steepland areas are settled by small-scale farming families where livelihoods may be endangered by land degradation and associated loss of productivity. This bulletin brings concepts and principles of good land husbandry into focus.