Fragile Lands of Latin America Strategies for ... - PART - USAID

Indigenous Soil Management in Amazonia 169
ogies may include the very low annual incomes of most Amazonian
inhabitants, about US $1,000 and less. The high costs of fertilizer,
about $250-300 per ha, represent almost one third of an average
household's income and are, therefore, beyond the reach of most Ama-
zonian~. While credit is usually proposed as the solution to this im-
passe, only about 4% of Amazonian peasants receive credits. The
inherent riskiness of annual crops often reduces the use of high tech-
nology packages (Scott, 1978), and the opportunity costs of labor and
cash in annual cropping systems limit the adoption of such crop/soil
technologies. The Yurimaguas approach has undergone several modi-
fications over the years and increasingly incorporates practices that are
less input demanding (Sanchez and Benites, 1987).
Some analysts are beginning to argue that tropical land use models
should be based on land management methods developed by local
populations that are presumably more closely integrated into the dy-
namics of tropical ecological systems and more reflective of the needs
of local populations (Altieri, 1987). Researchers increasingly recognize
the role of native populations in the development of ecologically sound,
productive land uses. However, indigenous soil management techniques
have received little attention in spite of the enormous budgets devoted
to tropical pedology and agronomy. One might well ask why such a
central issue in tropical development has so systematically ignored local
knowledge systems. A bag of fertilizer is not inherently a "bad" tech-
nology for Amazonian soil management, but it is not the only one
available. The real issue is how to define the range of appropriate
technical options for the Amazon. Existing native practices may suggest
usehl development strategies that could be tested under experiment
station conditions. Indigenous systems could be used as a springboard
for incorporating the best of both systems.
The Kayapb Model
The Gorotire Kayap6 inhabit a region characterized by a complex
geology and geomorphology in southern Par& Brazil. Lying at the
interface between the Precambrian Brazilian shield and more recent
metamorphic and sedimentary formations, several major soil orders are
found within short distances. Most Kayap6 agriculture is carried out
on four main soil types: a high fertility alfisol, a relatively high fertility
ultisol, a low fertility ultisol and a low fertility oxisol. Because the four
soil orders managed by the Kayap6 are similar to more then 80% of
the Amazonian soils the principles, the techniques and the impacts of
Kayap6 management could have wider implications for tropical soil
management in the Amazon Basin.