La paysannerie rwandaise : étude géographique d'une haute terre tropicale densement peuplée
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Abstract EN:
A rural population dominates in rwanda : in this small highland country densely occupied the most has been made of the surroundings by the use of a complex agro-pastoral system in a landscape where manking is everywhere, scattered over mountains and hills. An unusual traditional way of growing bananas, which has been adapted to today's needs, a seasonal mosaic of food crops where side by side are found legumes, root vegetables and cereals, a multitude of family small holdings of coffee trees and a varied cattle rearing give the possibility to most families to have a decent alimentation and a small source of income. The evolution of the peasant condition is today strongly marked by the demographic pressure. To face the difficulties which rise from this situation, the people have undertaken a detailed utilisation of the land, even on steep parts and in marshes, and have undertaken the conquest of the remaining virgin regions. They also had to change certain of their cultural choices, preferring root vegetables, which are better adapted to the small holding structures. They are also looking for new sources to complete those which come from holdings which have become too small. These initiatives however are not enough, symptoms of the crisis are obvious. The state is organizing an alimentary strategy to double the food production. If one may hope, as long as sufficient means are put to their disposition so as not to break the efforts of the peasantry, to get a real growth of production and achieve a certain alimentary self sufficiency, the problem of the insertion of
Abstract FR:
La population rurale est tres largement majoritaire au rwanda : dans ce petit pays de hautes terres tres densement occupees, elle a valorise les atouts du milieu en elaborant un systeme agro-pastoral complexe, dans un paysage agraire ou l'homme est partout, disperse a travers montagnes et collines. Une tradition originale de culture de la bananeraie, qui a su s'adapter aux exigences du present, une mosaique vivriere saisonniere ou coexistent legumineuses, cereales, tubercules, une multitude de petites plantations familiales de cafeiers, un elevage diversifie assurent a la plupart des familles une alimentation decente et quelques revenus monetaires. L'evolution de la condition paysanne est aujourd'hui fortement marquee par le poids de la pression demographique. Face aux difficultes qu'elle engendre, les hommes ont procede a un amenagement minutieux des terroirs, y compris sur les pentes raides et dans les marais, et ont acheve la conquete des dernieres regions vierges. Ils sont aussi amenes a modifier certains choix culturaux, en privilegiant les tubercules aux depens d'autres plantes moins adaptees aux structures microfundiaires. Ils recherchent enfin de nouvelles ressources, pour completer celles qu'ils tirent d'exploitations devenues trop exigues. Ces initiatives ne suffisent cependant plus, des symptomes de crise apparaissent. L'etat met en oeuvre une strategie alimentaire pour doubler la production vivriere. Si on peut esperer, a condition de disposer de moyens adequats et de ne pas briser la dynamique paysanne, obtenir un accroissement sensible des rendements et une relative autosuffisance alimentaire, le probleme de l'insertion dans l'espace et dans l'economie de dix millions de rwandais suscite de vives inquietudes. La strategie alimentaire n'es