Why are large areas of land in Guinea-Bissau not cultivated?

Large areas of land in Guinea-Bissau remain uncultivated primarily due to the traditional practice of slash-and-burn agriculture, which utilizes crop rotation methods that leave significant portions of land fallow.1

Additionally, the country faces a critical lack of agricultural credit and investment, a situation exacerbated by ongoing political instability and military conditions. These economic challenges are further compounded by a history of civil disorder, mismanagement, and the long-term effects of war, which have hindered the development of the agricultural sector. Furthermore, past conflicts caused significant environmental damage; when arable land fell out of use, it became susceptible to soil erosion, and the destruction of essential riverine dikes led to excessive salination, rendering some areas less suitable for farming.123