Root crops diversity and agricultural resilience: a case study of traditional agrosystems in Vanuatu (Oceania)

Sardos Julie, Muller Sara, Duval Marie-France, Noyer Jean-Louis, Lebot Vincent. 2016. Root crops diversity and agricultural resilience: a case study of traditional agrosystems in Vanuatu (Oceania). Agriculture and Human Values, 33 (3) : 721-736.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-015-9657-0

Article de revue ; Article de revue à facteur d'impact

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Quartile : Outlier, Sujet : HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE (Science) / Quartile : Outlier, Sujet : HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE (Social Sciences) / Quartile : Q1, Sujet : AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY / Quartile : Q1, Sujet : SOCIOLOGY

Liste HCERES des revues (en SHS) : oui

Thème(s) HCERES des revues (en SHS) : Economie-gestion

Résumé : In Vanuatu (Oceania), small-scale farmers' subsistence still largely relies on the sustainable use and maintenance of a wide-ranging biodiversity out of which root and tuber crops provide the bulk of daily subsistence. In neighboring countries, foreign influence since the first European contacts, further associated changes and the introduction of new crop species have induced a loss of cultivated diversity. This paper presents a baseline study of the diversity of root and tuber crops in ten communities throughout Vanuatu. In a context where the smallholders' agrosystems are increasingly considered as key components for the global conservation of crop genetic resources, this study provides clues to better understand the effective roles of biodiversity in traditional agrosystems. It also provides insights on the rationale behind the constitution of agricultural portfolios and discusses how the cultivated diversity allows communities to cope with changes and pressures. The paper also shows that recently introduced crops neither seem to have compromised agricultural diversity nor drastically changed the agrosystems in Vanuatu. On the contrary, such crops are used by farmers to strengthen the resilience of their agrosystems. A discussion then presents the idea of continuity through change and novelty as a critical factor for resilience. The paper concludes by discussing the role of indigenous agriculture and culture in ensuring food security and in development strategies in a larger context.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : plante racine, légume racine, diversification, étude de cas, agriculture traditionnelle, petite exploitation agricole, système de culture, sécurité alimentaire, facteurs culturels

Mots-clés géographiques Agrovoc : Vanuatu, Îles du Pacifique

Classification Agris : F08 - Systèmes et modes de culture
E80 - Économie familiale et artisanale

Champ stratégique Cirad : Axe 1 (2014-2018) - Agriculture écologiquement intensive

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