Espaces et paysages agraires dans le nord des Nouvelles-Hébrides. L'exemple des îles d'Aoba et de Maewo (étude de géographie agraire) (suite et fin)

Abstract

There are two main traditional methods of land use on Aoba and Maewo islands : that of the coastal peoples, whose main crop is yams, and that of the inland "man-bush", who are mainly taro planters. This study attempts to define the internal cohesion of the traditional agrarian systems, and discusses their evolution. Generally, the spread of cash-cropping causes a break-down in both social and agricultural systems: this is particularly marked in view of the high population density. It leads to a "disintensification" of traditional subsistence agriculture, and a decline in agrarian techniques. Furthermore, the transition from a peasant society to a cash-crop society, closely tied to an outside economy and to world copra prices, makes this society more and more vulnerable, and leads to a relative over-population of the most "evolved" regions. The renewal of migratory movements to the urban centers is often a direct effect of this situation. The methods used during this research (classification of agrarian systems and their evolution) are based on the classificatory model established by H. C. Brookfield, which makes it possible to "measure" the efficiency of agrarian systems and their degree of intensity (Melanesia: A Geographical Interpretation of an Island World. London, Methuen, 1970).