What Is a “kaingin System”?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 08, 2023

Kaingin system is the cutting down and burning of trees and plant growth in an area for cultivation purposes.Kaingin is a Filipino word that means clearing. Known as swidden farming in other countries, it is a traditional but destructive agricultural system practiced in many parts of the globe.

After the land is cleared and transformed into a fertile and cultivable land, farmers plant and harvest crops until the soil fertility recedes. Swidden farmers move to another land, leaving the field fallow until the land recovers and is once again suitable for planting crops. The rampant practice of kaingin system has led to the deforestation of many rainforests and the significant dwindling of wildlife around the world.