When agroforests drive back natural forests: A socio-economic analysis of a rice-agroforest system in Sumatra (original) (raw)

Abstract

In the Krui arae, (South Sumatra, Indonesia), the damar agroforests (Shorea javanica, Dipterocarpaceae) are but one element of the farming systems which include several other cropping systems such as irrigated or rainfed rice cultivation, and coffee plantation.

Rainfed rice is cultivated in forest clearings, in order to meet rice requirements which cannot be met with irrigated rice crop only. In the forest clearings, coffee stands are established in rice crop, and later, Damar are planted among coffee plants. As a result of this cropping system, the damar agroforest spreads while the forest dwindles.

In one village, no more forest land is available for peasants' clearings. The resulting high land pressure causes cropping systems and farming systems to change or to be exported to neighbouring areas where forest land is still available.

Résumé

Les agroforêts à damar (Shorea javanica) ne sont qu'un élément du système d'exploitation agricole de la région de Krui, Sud Sumatra, Indonésie. Ceux-çi associent plusieurs systèmes de culture tels que la riziculture irriguée, la culture du riz pluvial et la plantation de cafeiérs.

L'insuffisance des surfaces en rizières irriguées est compensée par la culture du riz pluvial, pratiquée en ‘ladang’, parcelle de forêt défrichée et brûlée. Sur les ‘ladangs’ se succèdent les cultures de riz, de café puis de damar, transformant ainsi la forêt naturelle en agroforêt à damar. On assiste à l'extension continue des agroforêts au détriment de la forêt naturelle.

Dans un des villages étudiés, la réserve de terres forestières communales est épuisée, déjà transformée en agroforêts. La forte pression fonçière qui en résulte induit des transformations dans les systèmes de production agricole ou incite des agriculteurs à migrer dans des régions voisines encore riches en terres forestières. Dans ces régions, les migrants reproduisent un système agroforestier très proche de celui de Krui, dans la mesure où les conditions écologiques le permettent.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Economie Rurale, ENSAM-INRA, 9, Place Viala, 34000, Montpellier, France
   Fabienne Mary
2. Botanique Tropicale, Institut de Botanique, 163, Avenue Auguste Broussonet, 34000, Montpellier, France
   Geneviève Michon

Authors

1. Fabienne Mary
2. Geneviève Michon

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Mary, F., Michon, G. When agroforests drive back natural forests: A socio-economic analysis of a rice-agroforest system in Sumatra.Agroforest Syst 5, 27–55 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00046412

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• Issue date: March 1987
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00046412

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