Taungya

nounStandard termForestry

An agroforestry system where seasonal crops are grown between newly planted timber trees.

A traditional plantation establishment method where farmers are given land to raise agricultural crops alongside planted tree seedlings. The farmers tend the crops and keep the weeds down, which simultaneously benefits the young trees. Once the tree canopy closes and shades out the crops, the farmers move to a new cleared area to repeat the cycle.

Heard on the job

Using the taungya system on the new teak plantation saved us a fortune in early weed control.