Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Clove based cropping systems on the east coast of Madagascar: how history leaves its mark on the landscape

  • Published:
Agroforestry Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Clove farming developed on the east coast of Madagascar a little over a century ago. The species is largely cultivated and farmed by communities of smallholders. This study aims to characterize clove based cropping systems. There are three types of coexisting clove systems: monoculture where clove is the sole crop with inter-rows covered by wild grasses, agricultural parklands where clove is associated with annual crops (rain fed rice, sugar cane, cassava) and finally complex agroforestry systems where clove is associated with other crops (vanilla), fruit trees (lychees, breadfruit, jackfruit) and pepper vines, as well as some forest trees. The study also shows that the majority of existing clove trees in the various cropping systems are over 50–60 years old. Our study aims to characterise the different clove based cropping systems with the intention of establishing a typology by measuring biometric criteria associated with clove trees, by determining the accompanying species and by characterising the horizontal and vertical structuration of plots. From these observations, we suggest some evolutionary hypotheses of clove systems in an attempt to resituate this typology in a historical dynamic implicating the agricultural history of the east coast of Madagascar and the evolution of the smallholders’ strategies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnez M (2009) Tobacco and kretek: Indonesian drugs in historical change. Aust J South East Asian Stud 2:49–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernard C, Oualbadet M, Ouattara N, Peltier R (1995) Parc agroforestiers dans un terroir soudanien—Cas du village de Dolékaha au Nord de la côte d’Ivoire. Bois For Trop 244:25–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Boiteau G (1936) Le girofle. La revue de Madagascar 13:107–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouriquet G (1946) Les maladies du giroflier. In: Paul Lechevalier et Fils (ed) Les maladies des plantes cultivées à Madagascar. Encyclopédie mycologique, Paris, pp 237–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun-Blanquet J (1965) Plant sociology: the study of plant communities. Hafner, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Cocoual M, Danthu P (2018) Le giroflier à Madagascar: essai d’histoire et de géographie coloniales, 1896–1958. Rev Géogr Hist 12. http://rgh.univ-lorraine.fr/articles/view/96/. Accessed 3 June 2018

  • Dandoy G (1973) Terroirs et économies villageoises de la région de Vavatenina (Côte orientale malgache). ORSTOM, Paris

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Danthu P, Penot E, Ranoarisoa KM, Rakotondravelo JC, Michel I, Tiollier M, Michels T, Normand F, Razafimamonjison G, Fawbush F, Jahiel M (2014) The clove tree of Madagascar: a success story with an unpredictable future. Bois For Trop 320:83–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Decary R (1937) Les débuts de la colonisation agricole à l’Ile Sainte-Marie de Madagascar. Rev Bot Appl Agric Colon 17:610–618

    Google Scholar 

  • Detienne P, Oyono F, Durrieu de Madron L, Demarquez B, Nasi R (1998) L’analyse de cernes: applications aux études de croissance de quelques essences en peuplements naturels de forêt dense africaine. Série FORAFRI, Document 15, CIRAD-Forêt, Montpellier

  • Donque G (1975) Les cyclones tropicaux des mars malgaches—Mise au point. Madag Rev Géogr 27:9–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Du Puy DJ, Labat JN, Rabevohitra R, Villiers JF, Bosser J, Moat J (2002) The Leguminosae of Madagascar. Royal Botanic Garden, Kew

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubois J, Ranaivosoa H (1966) Chrysotypus mabilianum Viette chenille mineuse du giroflier (Andretra)—biologie et lutte mécanique. L’Agronomie Trop 21:823–836

    Google Scholar 

  • Dufournet R (1968) Le giroflier et sa culture à Madagascar. Bull Madag 262:216–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Dussel L (1962) Produits de Madagascar—Girofle. Bull Madag 191:325–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Fourcin C, Penot E, Miche I, Danthu P, Jahiel M (2015) Contribution du giroflier à la sécurité alimentaire des ménages agricoles dans la région de Fénérive-Est, Madagascar. Project AFSFOOD, Working Paper no. 14. http://agritrop.cirad.fr/576559/1/ID576559.pdf. Accessed 30 Nov 2017

  • François E (1936) Giroflier et girofle. Rev Bot Appl Agr Colon 16:589–608 and 892–907

  • Frappa C (1954) Sur la chenille de Thyrididæ du genre Chrysotypus nuisible au giroflier sur la côte est de Madagascar. Bull Madag 95:280–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Gestin C (2016) Analyse de la dynamique giroflière dans la Réserve de Biosphère de Mananara-Nord, Madagascar. Mémoire d’Ingénieur Agronome, Développement Agricole et rural au Sud (DARS), SupAgro/LaSalle, Montpellier, 131 p

  • Gouzien Q, Penot E, Jahiel M, Danthu P (2016) Le girofle: poids dans l’économie malgache et place de Madagascar dans le marché mondial. Project AFS4FOOD, Working Paper no. 18. http://agritrop.cirad.fr/582468/. Accessed 21 Nov 2017

  • Heim R, Bouriquet G (1939) Maladies et champignons du giroflier à Madagascar. Revue de Pathologie Végétale et d’Entomologie Agricole de France 26:5–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Isnard H (1951) La colonisation agricole à Madagascar. Rev Géogr Alp 39:97–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jahiel M, Andréas C, Penot E (2014) Experience from fifteen years of Malagasy lychee export campaigns. Fruits 69:1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamatou GP, Vermaak I, Viljoen AM (2012) Eugenol- from the remote Malaku Islands to the international market place: a review of a remarkable and versatile molecule. Molecules 17:6953–6981

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Koerner F (1969) Décolonisation et économie de plantations. Situation des propriétés européennes à Madagascar. Ann Géogr 78:654–679

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lampman GM, Andrews J, Bratz W, Hanssen O, Kelley K, Perry D, Ridgeway A (1977) The preparation of vanillin from eugenol and sawdust. J Chem Educ 54:776–778

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ledreux A (1928) Le giroflier dans les régions de Fénérive, Soanierana et Sainte-Marie. Bull Écon Madag 1:38–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Ledreux A (1932a) Le cannelier à Madagascar. La Parfumerie Moderne 4:179–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Ledreux A (1932b) Le giroflier à Sainte-Marie et Madagascar. Bulletin Mensuel de l’Institut National d’Agronomie Coloniale 175/176: 1–22 + appendices

  • Leela NK, Sapna VP (2008) Clove. In: Parthasarathy VA, Chempakam B, Zachariah TJ (eds) Chemistry of spices. CABI International, Wallingford, pp 146–164

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Leroy JF (1946) Le Giroflier el les Plantes à Parfums. Rev Int Bot Appl Agric Trop 26:425–429

    Google Scholar 

  • Leydet C (2015) Evaluation de la dynamique de plantation/replantation en girofliers par les petits producteurs malgaches. Mémoire d’Ingénieur Agronome, Système Agricole, Alimentation et Développement au Sud CIRAD/FIDA/IRC, Montpellier, 75 p

  • Maillot E (2014) Impacts et durabilité des actions mises en œuvre dans le cadre des PPRR (Programme de Promotion des Revenus Ruraux) et CTHT/STABEX (Programme d’Appui aux Filières d’Exportation Agricoles): cas de la production du girofle dans le district de Fénérive-Est à Madagascar. Mémoire de Master 2, SupAgro, Montpellier, 77 p

  • Maistre J (1955) Le giroflier à Madagascar et Zanzibar. Agron Trop 10:413–448

    Google Scholar 

  • Maistre J (1964) Le clou de girofle. In: Les plantes à épices. G.-P. Maisonneuve & Larose, Paris, pp 77–124

  • Mariel J, Penot E, Michel I, Danthu P (2016) Analyse des systèmes agroforestiers du territoire de Vavatenina à Madagascar. Stratégies de mise en valeur, perceptions paysannes et résilience. Journées de Recherches en Science Sociales, Paris, December 2016. https://agritrop.cirad.fr/582463/1/. Accessed 22 Nov 2017

  • Mbow C, van Noordwijk M, Luedeling E, Neufeldt H, Minang PA, Kowero G (2014) Agroforestry solutions to address food security and climate change challenges in Africa. Curr Opin Environ Sustain 6:61–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michels T, Bisson A, Ralaidovy V, Rabemananjar H, Jahiel M, Malézieux E (2011) Horticultural agroforestry systems in the humid tropics: analysis of clove tree-based systems in Madagascar. Acta Hortic 894:161–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nair PKR (1985) Classification of agroforestry systems. Agrofor Syst 3:97–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nusbaumer L, Gautier L, Chatelain C, Spichiger R (2005) Structure et composition floristique de la forêt classée du Scio (Côte d’Ivoire)—Etude descriptive et comparative. Candollea 60:393–443

    Google Scholar 

  • Palacios Bucheli VJ, Bokelmann W (2017) Agroforestry systems for biodiversity and ecosystem services: the case of the Sibundoy Valley in the Colombian province of Putumayo. Int J Biodivers Sci Ecosyst Serv Manag 13:380–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parle M, Khanna D (2011) Clove: a champion spice. Int J Res Ayurveda Pharm 2:47–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Penot E, Richard A, Danthu P (2016) Analyse des systèmes de production à base de girofliers à l’ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar. In: Penot E (ed) Processus d’innovation et résilience des exploitations agricoles à Madagascar. Editions L’Harmattan, Paris, pp 385–403

    Google Scholar 

  • Penot E, Fourcin C, Michel I, Jahiel M, Danthu P (2017) Systèmes à base de giroflier, stratégies paysannes et sécurité alimentaire. Le cas de la région de Fénérive-Est. In: Proceedings of «XXIIIème Journées du développement: Agricultures, ruralités et développement». Université libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles

  • Petit M (1967) La plaine littorale de Maroantsetra, étude géographique. Institut de Géographie de la Faculté des Lettres, Université de Tananarive, Tananarive

  • Prudhomme E (1901) L’agriculture sur la Côte Est de Madagascar. Comité de Madagascar, Paris, 119 p (+photos)

  • Rahman SA, Jacobsen JB, Healey JR, Roshetko JM, Sunderland T (2017) Finding alternatives to swidden agriculture; does agroforestry improve livelihood options and reduce pressure on existing forest? Agrofor Syst 91:185–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Razafimamonjison G, Jahiel M, Duclos T, Ramanoelina P, Fawbush F, Danthu P (2014) Bud, leaf and stem essential oil composition of Syzygium aromaticum from Madagascar, Indonesia and Zanzibar. Int J Basic App Chem Sci 3:224–233

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Razafimamonjison G, Boulanger R, Jahiel M, Ramanoelina P, Fawbush F, Lebrun M, Danthu P (2016) Variations in yield and composition of leaf essential oil from Syzygium aromaticum at various phases of development. Int J Basic Appl Chem Sci 5:90–94

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rqibate A, Plugge D, Rabefahiry T, Ramamonjisoa B, Köhl M (2014) Local livelihoods in the context of deforestation and forest degradation: a study of three regions in Madagascar. In: Kalita P, Galloway G, de Jong W, Pacheco P, Mery G (eds) Forests under pressure: local responses to global issues. IUFRO world series 32, Vienna, pp 329–343

  • Sinclair FL (1999) A general classification of agroforestry practice. Agrofor Syst 46:161–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thiel J (1975) Bois et essences malgaches (troisième supplément). Centre National de la Recherche Appliquée au Développement Rural, Tananarive

    Google Scholar 

  • Thrupp LA (2000) Linking agricultural biodiversity and food security: the valuable role of agrobiodiversity for sustainable agriculture. Int Aff 76:265–281

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Torquebiau E (2000) A renewed perspective on agroforestry concepts and classification. C R Acad Sci Paris, Sci Vie Life Sci 323:1009–1101

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Torquebiau E, Mary F, Sibelet N (2002) Les associations agroforestières et leurs multiples enjeux. Bois For Trop 271:23–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Tourneur M (1947) Epices et aromates. Madagascar. Encyclopédie de l’Empire français, Paris, pp 310–321

    Google Scholar 

  • TROPICOS (Missouri Botanical Garden) (2016) Catalogue of the vascular plants of Madagascar. http://www.tropicos.org/Project/MADA. Accessed 29 Feb 2016, 13 Mar 2016 and 22 Apr 2016

  • Vandenbelt RJ (1990) Agroforestry in the semiarid tropics. In: MacDicken KG, Vergara NT (eds) Agroforestry classification and management. Wiley, New York, pp 150–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Wala K, Sinsin K, Guelly KA, Kokou K, Akpagana K (2005) Typologie et structure des parcs agroforestiers dans la préfecture de Doufelgou (Togo). Sécheresse 16:209–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiersum KF (2004) Forest gardens as an ‘intermediate’ land-use system in the nature-Culture continuum: characteristics and future potential. Agrofor Syst 61:123–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Worbes M (1995) How to measure growth dynamics in tropical trees—a review. IAWA J 6:337–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Worbes M (2002) One hundred years of tree-ring research in the tropics—a brief history and an outlook to future challenges. Dendrochronologia 20:217–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was performed as part of the AFS4FOOD Project (Agroforestry for Food Security) funded by the European Union and the African Union (Grant Number AURG/031/2012). It was conducted in partnership between CIRAD, CTHT and ESSA. It has received funds from the FSP PARRUR Project by the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. The authors wish to thank the residents of the rural communities of Ambatoharanana and Ambodimanga II for their hospitality and assistance. Thanks also to Karen Newby, who translated this article in aid of the association “Words for Solidarity”.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pascal Danthu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Arimalala, N., Penot, E., Michels, T. et al. Clove based cropping systems on the east coast of Madagascar: how history leaves its mark on the landscape. Agroforest Syst 93, 1577–1592 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-018-0268-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-018-0268-9

Keywords

Navigation