doi: 10.3850/S1793924013000060

Potential Agricultural Revolution and Disaster Mitigation through Introduction of Forest-based Agriculture in Timor-Leste

Yosuke Yamashiki¹, Marçal Gusmão² and Mami Sato^{3 1}Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, Kyoto University, 2F Konoe Building, 69, Yoshidakonoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan. yamashiki.yosuke.3u@kyoto-u.ac.jp ²Departementu de Agronomia, Universidade Nasional Timor Lorosa’e, AvenidaCidade de Lisboa, Dili, 10000, Timor-Leste. marcalgusmao@gmail.com ²Department of International Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Science, University of Tokyo, 5-1-1, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba, 277-8563, Japan. sato.107660@inter.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp

ABSTRACT

The primary means of vocational employment for the population of Timor-Leste is agriculture. However, those engaged in agriculture are finding it difficult to increase their productions and income through international trade. Sincemuch of the country is covered by forest, and is facing serious pressure for deforestation induced by Slash & Burn as traditional farming system, strategic plan should be carefully developed in order to stabilize both the lands and agricultural industry. Agroforestry may be a part of the answer for those in Timor-Leste for many reasons: (i) economical development (ii) land stabilization and (iii) community development, if appropriately introduced throughout technical collaboration based on careful survey on characteristics of farmland in Timor-Leste. Collaboration between South American countries and Timor-Leste through pit “South-South collaboration” may provide adequate resources to implement the necessary changes.

Keywords: Agroforestry, South-South collaboration, Afforestation, Land stabilization, Semi-arid zone.

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