Abstract
Pig husbandry intensification is part of the Irakia Awa response to problems engendered not by population growth, but by changes in the regional political economy under colonialism. Restructured political relations and expansion of the market economy have led to an acceleration of intergroup exchange activities and increased demands by affines and exchange partners for transactions in money and pigs, changes that threaten the prestige and economic well‐being of Irakians. After careful consideration of possible remedial actions, Irakian clan members decided to adopt the more intensive pig husbandry and ritual practices of neighboring Fore peoples and to compete with each other in an effort to raise more pigs for exchange. Initial results show that while the village herd size was increased by 29 percent in 12 months, the several Irakian clans experienced varied degrees of success. Also, expansion of the village herd created new social problems that required additional adjustments in the community life‐style. The responses of the Irakia Awa illustrate the complex social processes involved in the intensification of local production systems. [pig husbandry, production intensification, social change, Papua New Guinea]
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