Until 1980 there were important migrations of farmers from the plains looking for new land to clear ; some settled around Lake Balinsasayo (altitude : 600-1500 m) where 30 to 40% of the forest is primary forest. 20% of these farmers, often owning land in the plains, also own their land around the lake.
Swidden agriculture is combined with cash crops (approximately 1 ha per family) : banana, abaca, coconut palm, sweet potato, taro, yam.
Comparison of four groups of poor Negros populations, agricultural labourers and migrant swidden cultivators who have similar activities, shows up very different subsistence patterns. Migrant swidden cultivators have a varied and balanced diet which keeps them in better health, whereas the agricultural labourers in the plains have to buy a lot of their food and therefore suffer from malnutrition and bad health.
Poor groups
|
Proportion
of people who fell ill, over 12 months
|
Average
daily amount of cash in pesos
|
| immigrants
from the plains,
swidden cultivators
|
15%
|
13
|
| fishing
population
|
19%
|
11
|
| agricultural
labourers (sugar cane)
|
40
to 60%
|
9
|
| road-sweepers
|
85%
|
5
|
Swidden populations living in scattered groups in the mountains of Negros Island.
Swidden agriculture provides most of the carbohydrates but is nevertheless inadequate : main crops are mountain rice, maize, manioc, and sweet potato. A new plot is cleared every 2 or 3 years;
Gathering, as a regular activity, provides fruits, roots, tubers, vegetables and is at times the main food resource.
Hunting, trapping and fishing are important activities : wild pig is the most popular game, together with birds and bats. Traps are set on swidden land to catch pigs and deer. Fresh water fish, snails, crabs and shrimp are caught daily.
[41] CADELIñA, 1985
[42] ORACIóN, 1956; Mudar, 1982