Why do many small farms in Belize use shifting cultivation?

In Belize, many small farms—often referred to as milpas—practice shifting cultivation primarily due to the nutrient-poor nature of the lowland soils.1

This agricultural system serves as an adaptation to tropical environments where the soil lacks the fertility required for long-term, continuous cultivation without the use of fertilizers or advanced soil conservation techniques. By clearing a plot of land and cultivating it for a short period before abandoning it to allow for natural regeneration, farmers can avoid the rapid exhaustion of soil nutrients. This method is a traditional approach to managing land in regions where the productive capacity of the soil diminishes quickly.231