15 research outputs found
Complexity of the agrarian crisis of a mountain ecosystem in Haiti. Which ways to improve peasant living conditions and preserve the environment ?
HaĂŻti, pays au relief montagneux, a connu un dĂ©boisement important tout au long du dernier siĂšcle. La disparition du couvert forestier sur les pentes se traduit par une forte Ă©rosion des sols qui engendre des dĂ©gĂąts sur les terres agricoles situĂ©es en aval et des coulĂ©es boueuses potentiellement meurtriĂšres. Face Ă ce problĂšme, la restriction des usages agricoles et le reboisement des pentes les plus exposĂ©es au risque Ă©rosif constituent la principale rĂ©ponse apportĂ©e par le gouvernement haĂŻtien et les organisations internationales. Cette recherche se propose, Ă partir du diagnostic de lâagriculture de la rĂ©gion de La Borne, situĂ©e dans la ChaĂźne des Matheux et en amont de la grande plaine rizicole de lâArtibonite, dâanalyser quel serait lâimpact dâun projet de mise en dĂ©fens de terres agricoles pour leur reboisement sur les diffĂ©rentes catĂ©gories dâagriculteurs. Il sâagit Ă©galement de rĂ©flĂ©chir Ă des voies alternatives de dĂ©veloppement qui permettraient Ă la fois de prĂ©server lâĂ©cosystĂšme cultivĂ© tout en amĂ©liorant la situation alimentaire et Ă©conomique des exploitations paysannes.Cette recherche a Ă©tĂ© basĂ©e sur un travail de terrain approfondi. Elle a permis de montrer que lâaccroissement dĂ©mographique quâa connu la rĂ©gion au cours des derniĂšres dĂ©cennies sâest accompagnĂ© de lâaugmentation des surfaces cultivĂ©es. Celle-ci a reposĂ© sur une rĂ©duction de la durĂ©e du recrĂ» dans les rotations et sur une extension des cultures jusquâaux pentes les plus fortes. La reproduction de la fertilitĂ© du sol sur les espaces cultivĂ©s, permise par lâassociation avec lâĂ©levage, est de moins en moins bien assurĂ©e Ă mesure que diminuent la disponibilitĂ© fourragĂšre et la capacitĂ© dâinvestissement des agriculteurs, qui Ă©voluent dans un contexte socio-Ă©conomique trĂšs dĂ©favorable, toutes deux limitant la taille de leur cheptel. Les rendements diminuent et la baisse du taux de matiĂšre organique des sols favorise leur Ă©rosion sur les pentes. Lâanalyse du fonctionnement du systĂšme agraire a permis de comprendre que la mise en dĂ©fens des espaces les plus Ă©rodĂ©s pour leur reboisement se traduirait par une nouvelle rĂ©duction des disponibilitĂ©s fourragĂšres et viendrait exacerber les dĂ©sĂ©quilibres existants. Les agriculteurs les plus pauvres, dont le fonctionnement du systĂšme de production dĂ©pend en grande partie de lâexploitation des zones ciblĂ©es, seraient les premiers affectĂ©s.Certains agriculteurs de la rĂ©gion ont commencĂ©, moyennant lâadaptation et lâutilisation systĂ©mique de techniques acquises dans le cadre de projets de dĂ©veloppement, Ă mettre en place de profondes transformations qui participent Ă rĂ©soudre la crise de fertilitĂ© de lâĂ©cosystĂšme cultivĂ©. GrĂące Ă lâamĂ©nagement de terrasses sur les pentes et Ă une meilleure maĂźtrise des eaux de ruissellement, au prix dâune forte intensification en travail, ils sont parvenus Ă dĂ©velopper de nouveaux systĂšmes de production. Ceux-ci reposent sur lâintroduction de cultures fourragĂšres et sur des cultures associĂ©es sous couvert arborĂ©, qui permettent dâaccroĂźtre le taux de matiĂšre organique du sol, sa capacitĂ© dâinfiltration des eaux de ruissellement ainsi que les rendements. Ce nouveau mode dâexploitation du milieu, dont la mise en Ćuvre requiert une sĂ©curitĂ© de la tenure fonciĂšre et lâaccĂšs Ă un Ă©quipement adaptĂ© et relativement coĂ»teux, constitue une alternative de dĂ©veloppement agricole qui permet Ă la fois de limiter lâĂ©rosion des sols et dâaccroĂźtre la capacitĂ© de production des Ă©cosystĂšmes cultivĂ©s, dans lâintĂ©rĂȘt de la paysannerie.Haiti has experienced significant deforestation during the last century. On the slopes, reduced forest cover results in severe soil erosion and generates important damages downstream. In response to this problem, agricultural land use restrictions and reforestation of areas most exposed to erosive risk have been the main response of the Haitian government and international organizations for several decades. Thanks to the case study of the area of La Borne, located in the Matheux mountain range and uphill the large rice plain of the Artibonite, this study aims to analyze the impact on farmers of projects that prevent the use of rural lands other than for reforestation purposes. We also consider alternative ways of development that would reach both objectives to preserve mountainous ecosystem while improving the food and economic situation of peasants.This research was based on extensive fieldwork. It has shown that the areaâs population growth during recent decades has been associated with an increase in cultivated areas. This has been made possible by a reduction in the duration of fallow and an extension of crop area to the steepest slopes. The reproduction of soil fertility in cultivated areas, which is permitted by association with livestock, is compromised by fodder availability and farmersâ investment capacity. They evolve indeed in a socio-economic context economically very unfavorable. These factors limit the size of their livestock. Yields and organic matter content of soil quickly decline, leading to a increasing erosion on the slopes. The analysis of the agrarian system of La Borne made it possible to understand that agricultural land use limitation in the most eroded areas, except for reforestation purposes, would result in further reduction of fodder supplies and would accentuate existing imbalances. The poorest farmers, whose farming activity depends mostly on the exploitation of targeted areas, would be the first to be affected.Some farmers in the region have begun implementing profound transformations that contribute to solving the fertility crisis of the ecosystem. They have adapted and used with a systemic approach several techniques acquired during development projects. Thanks to a strong intensification of work, they have built terraces on the slopes and managed to better control runoff water. It enables them to develop new farming systems which rely on fodder introduction and associated crops under tree cover. The outcome is increased soil organic matter rate, better infiltration capacity and improved crop yields. Implementation of these practices requires a secure land tenure and an access to suitable equipment, which is relatively expensive. These new farming systems offer an alternative way of development that both limit soil erosion and increase food production on mountains areas, taking into account peasants interests
ComplexitĂ© de la crise agraire dâun Ă©cosystĂšme de montagne en HaĂŻti. Quelles voies dâamĂ©lioration des conditions de vie paysanne et de prĂ©servation du milieu ?
Haiti has experienced significant deforestation during the last century. On the slopes, reduced forest cover results in severe soil erosion and generates important damages downstream. In response to this problem, agricultural land use restrictions and reforestation of areas most exposed to erosive risk have been the main response of the Haitian government and international organizations for several decades. Thanks to the case study of the area of La Borne, located in the Matheux mountain range and uphill the large rice plain of the Artibonite, this study aims to analyze the impact on farmers of projects that prevent the use of rural lands other than for reforestation purposes. We also consider alternative ways of development that would reach both objectives to preserve mountainous ecosystem while improving the food and economic situation of peasants.This research was based on extensive fieldwork. It has shown that the areaâs population growth during recent decades has been associated with an increase in cultivated areas. This has been made possible by a reduction in the duration of fallow and an extension of crop area to the steepest slopes. The reproduction of soil fertility in cultivated areas, which is permitted by association with livestock, is compromised by fodder availability and farmersâ investment capacity. They evolve indeed in a socio-economic context economically very unfavorable. These factors limit the size of their livestock. Yields and organic matter content of soil quickly decline, leading to a increasing erosion on the slopes. The analysis of the agrarian system of La Borne made it possible to understand that agricultural land use limitation in the most eroded areas, except for reforestation purposes, would result in further reduction of fodder supplies and would accentuate existing imbalances. The poorest farmers, whose farming activity depends mostly on the exploitation of targeted areas, would be the first to be affected.Some farmers in the region have begun implementing profound transformations that contribute to solving the fertility crisis of the ecosystem. They have adapted and used with a systemic approach several techniques acquired during development projects. Thanks to a strong intensification of work, they have built terraces on the slopes and managed to better control runoff water. It enables them to develop new farming systems which rely on fodder introduction and associated crops under tree cover. The outcome is increased soil organic matter rate, better infiltration capacity and improved crop yields. Implementation of these practices requires a secure land tenure and an access to suitable equipment, which is relatively expensive. These new farming systems offer an alternative way of development that both limit soil erosion and increase food production on mountains areas, taking into account peasants interests.HaĂŻti, pays au relief montagneux, a connu un dĂ©boisement important tout au long du dernier siĂšcle. La disparition du couvert forestier sur les pentes se traduit par une forte Ă©rosion des sols qui engendre des dĂ©gĂąts sur les terres agricoles situĂ©es en aval et des coulĂ©es boueuses potentiellement meurtriĂšres. Face Ă ce problĂšme, la restriction des usages agricoles et le reboisement des pentes les plus exposĂ©es au risque Ă©rosif constituent la principale rĂ©ponse apportĂ©e par le gouvernement haĂŻtien et les organisations internationales. Cette recherche se propose, Ă partir du diagnostic de lâagriculture de la rĂ©gion de La Borne, situĂ©e dans la ChaĂźne des Matheux et en amont de la grande plaine rizicole de lâArtibonite, dâanalyser quel serait lâimpact dâun projet de mise en dĂ©fens de terres agricoles pour leur reboisement sur les diffĂ©rentes catĂ©gories dâagriculteurs. Il sâagit Ă©galement de rĂ©flĂ©chir Ă des voies alternatives de dĂ©veloppement qui permettraient Ă la fois de prĂ©server lâĂ©cosystĂšme cultivĂ© tout en amĂ©liorant la situation alimentaire et Ă©conomique des exploitations paysannes.Cette recherche a Ă©tĂ© basĂ©e sur un travail de terrain approfondi. Elle a permis de montrer que lâaccroissement dĂ©mographique quâa connu la rĂ©gion au cours des derniĂšres dĂ©cennies sâest accompagnĂ© de lâaugmentation des surfaces cultivĂ©es. Celle-ci a reposĂ© sur une rĂ©duction de la durĂ©e du recrĂ» dans les rotations et sur une extension des cultures jusquâaux pentes les plus fortes. La reproduction de la fertilitĂ© du sol sur les espaces cultivĂ©s, permise par lâassociation avec lâĂ©levage, est de moins en moins bien assurĂ©e Ă mesure que diminuent la disponibilitĂ© fourragĂšre et la capacitĂ© dâinvestissement des agriculteurs, qui Ă©voluent dans un contexte socio-Ă©conomique trĂšs dĂ©favorable, toutes deux limitant la taille de leur cheptel. Les rendements diminuent et la baisse du taux de matiĂšre organique des sols favorise leur Ă©rosion sur les pentes. Lâanalyse du fonctionnement du systĂšme agraire a permis de comprendre que la mise en dĂ©fens des espaces les plus Ă©rodĂ©s pour leur reboisement se traduirait par une nouvelle rĂ©duction des disponibilitĂ©s fourragĂšres et viendrait exacerber les dĂ©sĂ©quilibres existants. Les agriculteurs les plus pauvres, dont le fonctionnement du systĂšme de production dĂ©pend en grande partie de lâexploitation des zones ciblĂ©es, seraient les premiers affectĂ©s.Certains agriculteurs de la rĂ©gion ont commencĂ©, moyennant lâadaptation et lâutilisation systĂ©mique de techniques acquises dans le cadre de projets de dĂ©veloppement, Ă mettre en place de profondes transformations qui participent Ă rĂ©soudre la crise de fertilitĂ© de lâĂ©cosystĂšme cultivĂ©. GrĂące Ă lâamĂ©nagement de terrasses sur les pentes et Ă une meilleure maĂźtrise des eaux de ruissellement, au prix dâune forte intensification en travail, ils sont parvenus Ă dĂ©velopper de nouveaux systĂšmes de production. Ceux-ci reposent sur lâintroduction de cultures fourragĂšres et sur des cultures associĂ©es sous couvert arborĂ©, qui permettent dâaccroĂźtre le taux de matiĂšre organique du sol, sa capacitĂ© dâinfiltration des eaux de ruissellement ainsi que les rendements. Ce nouveau mode dâexploitation du milieu, dont la mise en Ćuvre requiert une sĂ©curitĂ© de la tenure fonciĂšre et lâaccĂšs Ă un Ă©quipement adaptĂ© et relativement coĂ»teux, constitue une alternative de dĂ©veloppement agricole qui permet Ă la fois de limiter lâĂ©rosion des sols et dâaccroĂźtre la capacitĂ© de production des Ă©cosystĂšmes cultivĂ©s, dans lâintĂ©rĂȘt de la paysannerie
Quelles voies de dĂ©veloppement de lâagriculture dans les territoires montagneux haĂŻtiens ?
Dans les territoires montagneux haĂŻtiens, les prĂ©occupations environnementales liĂ©es Ă la dĂ©forestation et lâĂ©rosion des sols sont mises au premier plan depuis des dĂ©cennies par les mĂ©dias, les acteurs politiques et les organisations internationales. Ă partir du discours dominant qui tend Ă mettre en relation dĂ©forestation et pauvretĂ© de la paysannerie, ont Ă©tĂ© Ă©laborĂ©s de nombreux projets de dĂ©veloppement qui visent Ă reboiser les montagnes. La mise en dĂ©fens pour le reboisement en Ă©change du versement de paiements pour services environnementaux apparaĂźt comme une piste privilĂ©giĂ©e par certains projets rĂ©cemment mis en Ćuvre. La recherche conduite avait comme objectif de mettre en lumiĂšre les ressorts du processus de dĂ©forestation, en le mettant en lien avec lâĂ©volution des pratiques des agriculteurs et des conditions socio-Ă©conomiques dans lesquelles ceux-ci travaillent. Elle visait, de plus, Ă Ă©valuer lâimpact prĂ©visible de ces projets de mise en dĂ©fens tout en rĂ©flĂ©chissant Ă dâautres voies permettant de rĂ©soudre tout Ă la fois crise environnementale et crise Ă©conomique et sociale.In Haitiâs mountain regions, environmental concerns related to deforestation and soil erosion have been largely relayed by the media, political actors and international organizations. Starting from the dominant approach that tends to link deforestation and peasant poverty, many development projects have been designed that aim to reforest mountains. Agricultural land use limitation in the most eroded areas, except for reforestation purposes, using payment for environmental services, appears to be a favored response for projects recently developed. This research aims to question the dynamics of the deforestation process, linking it with the evolution of farmersâ practices and socio-economic conditions in which they work. It also aimed to assess the foreseeable impact of these defensive projects while considering alternative pathways to resolve both environmental and economic and social crises
Quelles voies de dĂ©veloppement de lâagriculture dans les territoires montagneux haĂŻtiens ?: Lâexemple de la rĂ©gion de La Borne dans la ChaĂźne des Matheux
International audienceIn Haitiâs mountain regions, environmental concerns related to deforestation and soil erosion have been largely relayed by the media, political actors and international organizations. Starting from the dominant approach that tends to link deforestation and peasant poverty, many development projects have been designed that aim to reforest mountains. Agricultural land use limitation in the most eroded areas, except for reforestation purposes, using payment for environmental services, appears to be a favored response for projects recently developed. This research aims to question the dynamics of the deforestation process, linking it with the evolution of farmersâ practices and socio-economic conditions in which they work. It also aimed to assess the foreseeable impact of these defensive projects while considering alternative pathways to resolve both environmental and economic and social crises.Dans les territoires montagneux haĂŻtiens, les prĂ©occupations environnementales liĂ©es Ă la dĂ©forestation et lâĂ©rosion des sols sont mises au premier plan depuis des dĂ©cennies par les mĂ©dias, les acteurs politiques et les organisations internationales. Ă partir du discours dominant qui tend Ă mettre en relation dĂ©forestation et pauvretĂ© de la paysannerie, ont Ă©tĂ© Ă©laborĂ©s de nombreux projets de dĂ©veloppement qui visent Ă reboiser les montagnes. La mise en dĂ©fens pour le reboisement en Ă©change du versement de paiements pour services environnementaux apparaĂźt comme une piste privilĂ©giĂ©e par certains projets rĂ©cemment mis en Ćuvre. La recherche conduite avait comme objectif de mettre en lumiĂšre les ressorts du processus de dĂ©forestation, en le mettant en lien avec lâĂ©volution des pratiques des agriculteurs et des conditions socio-Ă©conomiques dans lesquelles ceux-ci travaillent. Elle visait, de plus, Ă Ă©valuer lâimpact prĂ©visible de ces projets de mise en dĂ©fens tout en rĂ©flĂ©chissant Ă dâautres voies permettant de rĂ©soudre tout Ă la fois crise environnementale et crise Ă©conomique et sociale
Stratégies paysannes haïtiennes de diversification des sources de revenus
International audienc
Stratégies paysannes de lutte contre la pauvreté et recherche de sources de revenus complémentaires, vers la pluriactivité
In recent decades, the impoverishment of Haitiâs farmers has resultedâfor the hardest hit among them, who can no longer make a living off the landâin dependence on non-agricultural sources of income. This paper draws on research work conducted in the Epin region, in Haitiâs Central Plateau. The agro-economic analysis carried out in this region sheds light on the context in which pluriactivity (making charcoal from trees bought standing, temporary jobs in Port-au-Prince and the region) has become the only way for the poorest families to survive. With access only to small parcels of land in the least fertile ecosystems, they cannot meet their food needs with their own farm produce. These extra-agricultural activities enable them to leverage the family work force, and perhaps a small amount of capital, and aimsâabove allâto supplement their diet
Bande enherbée: Définition
National audienceThe grass strip of an agricultural plot is an agroecological infrastructure formed by a linear plant cover. Depending on its location and its floristic composition, it participates in different functions including preserving biodiversity and limiting pollution of watercourses...La bande enherbĂ©e dâune parcelle agricole est une infrastructure agroĂ©cologique formĂ©e dâun couvert vĂ©gĂ©tal linĂ©aire. Selon son emplacement et sa composition floristique, elle participe Ă diffĂ©rentes fonctions parmi lesquelles prĂ©server la biodiversitĂ© et limiter la pollution des cours dâeau..
Haie composite: DĂ©finition
National audienceA composite hedge is a linear agroecological infrastructure, made up of several vegetation strata, associating different species, compatible with each other. The complementarity of these species (where the characteristic âcompositeâ comes from) allows the hedge to provide varied ecosystem services for a long period of the year...Une haie composite est une infrastructure agroĂ©cologique linĂ©aire, formĂ©e de plusieurs strates de vĂ©gĂ©tations, associant diffĂ©rentes espĂšces compatibles entre-elles. La complĂ©mentaritĂ© de ces derniĂšres (Ă lâorigine du caractĂšre « composite » de la haie) permet Ă celle-ci de fournir des services Ă©cosystĂ©miques diversifiĂ©s, sur une longue pĂ©riode de lâannĂ©e...
The French version of the Arnett inventory of sensation seeking: Internal and predictive validity
In this study we examine the psychometric characteristics and the predictive validity of the AISS-17, the French version of the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking. Two samples were used, one of which enabled us to carry out prospective monitoring over a period of six months. Our study provides data that support the validity of the AISS-17. This inventory includes the same two factors as the AISS (Novelty and Intensity). It has good concurrent and convergent validity, and its nomological network is comparable to that of the AISS and to the SSS of Zuckerman. However, our study confirms the low reliability of the AISS. We also showed that the AISS-17 has good predictive validity. We observed a significant cross-lagged effect of the AISS-17 at T1 on risk taking at T2, when controlled for age, gender and risk-taking at T1. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.status: publishe
The French version of the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking: Internal and predictive validity
In this study we examine the psychometric characteristics and the predictive validity of the AISS-17, the French version of the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking. Two samples were used, one of which enabled us to carry out prospective monitoring over a period of six months. Our study provides data that support the validity of the AISS-17. This inventory includes the same two factors as the AISS (Novelty and Intensity). It has good concurrent and convergent validity, and its nomological network is comparable to that of the AISS and to the SSS of Zuckerman. However, our study confirms the low reliability of the AISS. We also showed that the AISS-17 has good predictive validity. We observed a significant cross-lagged effect of the AISS-17 at T1 on risk taking at T2, when controlled for age, gender and risk-taking at T1