Swidden agriculture has been practiced historically by communities in Southeast Asia. However, as populations grow and other land uses expand, the areas available to these farmers are decreasing. Government environmental policies often discriminate against swidden farming. Meanwhile, opportunities for off-farm employment are increasing, attracting many young people to abandon this traditional practice.

This video explores the link between access to land and migration in three forest landscapes across Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam. It analyzes the impacts of push factors within swidden systems and pull factors from non-agricultural activities on the decisions of young people—whether to migrate or to continue swidden agriculture.

The findings reveal that stable cash incomes from non-farm jobs were a major driver of youth out-migration. Other influential factors included the desire for broader life experience, better education, and the influence of peers.

The video also shows that land is becoming less accessible to young swidden farmers. However, contrary to many assumptions, this was not a primary reason for migration. This reduced access is largely due to government and private sector investments in plantations, mining, and infrastructure, alongside government restrictions on land clearing, which collectively shrink the areas available for swidden farming.