Migration and Agricultural Practices in the Peripheral Areas of Côte d’Ivoire State-Owned Forests

Zanh Golou Gizèle,Bogaert Jan,Kpangui Kouassi Bruno,Barima Yao Sadaiou Sabas

doi:10.3390/su11226378

Zanh Golou Gizèle, Bogaert Jan + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su11226378

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Abstract

Côte d’Ivoire’s rural areas adjacent to the state-owned areas of the southern half of the country, such as classified forests, are experiencing significant migratory flows due to their agricultural potential. The population movements in these rural areas have changed the rural landscape. The general objective of this study was to identify the peasant innovations implemented in these rural areas adjacent to the state’s forest domains in a context of land saturation caused by migratory flows. This objective was elucidated from the case of the classified forest of Haut-Sassandra (CFHS). To achieve this, surveys were conducted in 11 villages on the periphery of the FCHS to determine the profile of planters and the main crops grown. Subsequently, floristic inventories were carried out on farms to analyse the diversity of associated species. Analyses showed that the rural populations of the CFHS are mainly composed of Allochthones (64%). Four innovative production systems were identified: a cashew-based production system, a cocoa-based production system, a coffee-based production system and a coffee- and cocoa-based production system. These farmer innovations based on agroforestry practices make it possible to restore impoverished lands and fight against climatic hazards. Consequently, these local practices deserve to be popularised in areas of strong land pressure as strategies to overcome the shortage of arable land and fluctuating prices of agricultural production.

Highlights

In tropical regions, family farming is the main source of income for rural populations [1]
Cocoa farming is still manual and subject to the availability of forests, leading to massive deforestation in Côte d’Ivoire. This decrease in forest cover, combined with the ageing of orchards and the proliferation of cocoa swollen shoot viruses, is causing the cocoa economy to shift from the southeast to the southwest through the central-west, depending on the availability of forests in these regions
The migratory flow generated by the displacement of the cocoa economy increased during the decade of politico-military crisis of 2002–2011 in the central-west region [7] and would have led to a saturation of rural areas [8]

Summary

Introduction

Family farming is the main source of income for rural populations [1]. Cocoa farming is still manual and subject to the availability of forests, leading to massive deforestation in Côte d’Ivoire This decrease in forest cover, combined with the ageing of orchards and the proliferation of cocoa swollen shoot viruses, is causing the cocoa economy to shift from the southeast to the southwest through the central-west, depending on the availability of forests in these regions. This shift in the cocoa economy has exacerbated pressures on arable land and remaining forests [6]. The migratory flow generated by the displacement of the cocoa economy increased during the decade of politico-military crisis of 2002–2011 in the central-west region [7] and would have led to a saturation of rural areas [8]

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