Development of Conservation Farming on Hillslopes

by W.C. Moldenhauer, N.W. Hudson

from the The island nation of Taiwan, Republic of China, has more than three decades of experience in applying soil and water conservation measures on hillslope farms. That experience has proved extremely helpful to scientists, natural resource managers, and policymakers in other countries, particularly developing nations. Because of human population increases and food shortages, marginal land, especially hillslope land is being brought into cultivation in many countries around the globe. In some of these countries, the unwise us of hillslopes has been a result of socioeconomic conditions. Proper policy and planning, along with the development of appropriate infrastructure, conservation farming systems, and machinery, are imperitie when hillslopes are developed for agricultural purposes. The Taiwan experience offers a model to emulate in these situations. Patricularly significant in the Taiwan experience is the fact that many things need to occur simultaneously, with full government support, if success is to be achieved in hillslope farm development. Governments also must respond as socioeconomic conditions change if agriculture is to remain viable. This point is valid worldwide, in developed and devoloping nations. This book exemplifies waht Tawain and other nations have achieved in the development of agriculture on hillslopes. Such information should prove valuable in devising strategies in other settings.

332 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1991