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

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Abstract

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.

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Notes

  1. Fonds français pour l’Environnement Mondial.

  2. Centre de coopération international en recherche agronomique pour le Développement.

  3. Vanuatu Ministry of Agriculture, Quarantine/Livestock, Forestry and Fisheries.

  4. The term ‘landrace’ used in this study refers to the organization of intra-specific diversity according to farmers’ perceptions, i.e. plants of the same species sharing enough morphological properties to be grouped under the same name.

  5. The Melanesian oven is made by digging a hole in the ground. Then folded laplap leaves containing food are placed in the hole, covered up with hot stones and then recovered with ground.

  6. Regenvanu (2010) prefers using the term “traditional economy” rather than “subsistence economy” as he considers that it constitutes the political, economic and social foundation of Vanuatu society.

Abbreviations

CA:

Factorial correspondence analysis

CIRAD:

Centre International pour la Recherche et le Développement

FFEM:

Fond Français pour l’Environnement Mondial

MQAFF:

Ministry of Agriculture, Quarantine, Fishery and Forestry

PICs:

Pacific Island Countries

RT:

Root and tuber

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Acknowledgments

The present paper ensues from a long writing process that started 8 years ago when the first author began the writing of the introductory chapter of her PhD thesis. During this process, we were helped by a number of people that we wish to thank: first AHUM’s editor, Dr. Harvey James, for his support throughout the years, seconds the anonymous reviewers who considerably helped improving the quality of the manuscript, lastly Vincent Johnson (Bioversity France) for his kind editing work before submission. This study would not have been possible without the financial support of the Fond Français pour l’Environnement Mondial (FFEM), CIRAD and the Ministry of Quarantine, Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry of Vanuatu. Our acknowledgements are also going to the Root Crops Team of the VARTC for their support in the field. We also thank the farmers of the ten villages of the study for their patience and hospitality. Finally, the final writing of this article would not have been possible without the support and authorization of RTB, the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bioversity International, Parc Scientifique Agropolis II, 1990 Boulevard de la Lironde, 34397, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Julie Sardos

  2. Faculté de Géographie et Aménagement, Université de Strasbourg, 3 rue de l’Argonne, 67000, Strasbourg, France

    Sara Muller

  3. UMR AGAP, CIRAD, TA A-108/03, Avenue Agropolis, 34398, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Marie-France Duval

  4. CIRAD, TA A-DIR/04, Avenue Agropolis, 34398, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Jean-Louis Noyer

  5. UMR AGAP, CIRAD, CARFV, PO Box 946, Port-Vila, Vanuatu

    Vincent Lebot

Authors
  1. Julie Sardos
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  2. Sara Muller
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  3. Marie-France Duval
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  4. Jean-Louis Noyer
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  5. Vincent Lebot
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Correspondence to Julie Sardos.

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Sardos, J., Muller, S., Duval, MF. et al. Root crops diversity and agricultural resilience: a case study of traditional agrosystems in Vanuatu (Oceania). Agric Hum Values 33, 721–736 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-015-9657-0

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