This analysis of principal farming systems in the tropics with details of farm management problems arising in each case distinguishes seven basically different systems 1 shifting cultivation 2 semipermanent cultivation 3 with regulated ley farming 4 with permanent cultivation on rain fed land 5 with arable irrigation farming 6 with perennial crops 7 grazing. Analysing the important farming systems of the tropics this book introduces the farm management problems that arise for each it identifies seven basically distinct systems in each the economic implications of soil fertility uncertainty and labour productivity problems are discussed and consideration is given to the ways in which technological and farm management changes can be made to overcome them. Farming systems in the wetter tropics may be divided into three simplified models the irrigated paddy rice multistorey homestead garden complex of asia the tree and cash crop plantations of latin america and the mixed root crop bush fallow systems of africa