Title: Social and spatial organisation – assessing the agroecological changes on farms: case study in a banana-growing area of Guadeloupe

Authors: M. Houdart, M. Bonin, C. Compagnone

Addresses: CEMAGREF, UMR Metafort, 24 Avenue des Landais, BP 50085, 63172 Aubiere, France. ' CIRAD, UMR Tetis, TA C-91/F, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34-398, Cedex 5, Montpellier, France. ' AgroSup Dijon – INRA LISTO, Les Longelles, 26 Bd du Docteur Petitjean, BP 87999, 21079 Dijon, France

Abstract: The aim of the present study is to assess the individual and collective agroecological changes of farmers located in the same drainage basin in Guadeloupe. Farmers of this basin were interviewed; sociogrammes were drawn up and correlated with the farm distribution in the study area. The network analysis combined with the spatial configuration analysis highlighted how the geographical area had an impact on interactions between farmers, and how the extent of the local dimension of these interactions governed some exchanges. We revealed also how alternative production orientations seemed to be introduced within the network so as to facilitate change while preserving some social structural stability. This indicates that new strategies should be introduced by providing farmers with technical training that stresses both technical and social efficiency.

Keywords: social organisation; spatial organisation; agroecological changes; bananas; Guadeloupe; agroecology; farmers; technical training; technical efficiency; social efficiency.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2011.040216

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2011 Vol.9 No.1/2, pp.15 - 30

Published online: 22 Oct 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article