Swidden Agriculture, food security and environment in semiarid area of Timor – Indonesia

Despite policies inplemented to minimise Swidden Agriculture (SA) practices, it remains in semi-arid areas of Timor Island. A study SA was conducted Manikin Watershed (MW) West during 2017 2019 oder understand the nature using Agro-ecosystems approach and analyse strengths for sustainable upland farming management. The research applied survey method data collection. Qualitative analysed thematic analysis descriptively mapping spacial open access SAGAGIS. results showed that Agro-ecosystem characteristics at MW have characterised by Low Productivity, Stability, High Equitability, Adaptability, Autonomous. adaptability some important components which are suits with resource poor farmers becomes main reasons why keep practicing SA. lies on farmers' perception as an adaptive suitable system circumstances: saving labour, only need simple equipments, easy applied, no external inputs used, fertilize soil/crops, harvest guarantee least one food crop. be improved developed a productive model communities.