(a) Discuss the main features of rotational bush fallowing in West Africa

(b) Describe the major factors affecting the practice of bush fallowing in West Africa

(c) Explain the problems associated with this farming method. 
 

Explanation

(a) The main features of rotational bush fallowing in West Africa are:

(i) There is abundant land

(ii) It is practised where the population is low

(iii) Farmers settlement is fixed as he only moves from one farmland to another

(iv) Only annual crops are grown

(v) Simple farm tools are used

(b) Factors affecting the practice of bush fallowing in West Africa

(i) Lack of sufficient land

(ii) Increase in population

(iii) Poor fertility of the soil

(c) Problems associated with bush fallowing:

(i) Destruction of valuable forest through land clearing and bush burning

(ii) It leads to fragmentation of land if there is increase in population

(iii) It allows for cultivation of only seasonal or annual crops like maize, yam, cassava, etc

(iv) The system can lead to soil erosion

(v) A lot of money, time and energy is spent on preparing the land for very little agricultural returns.