Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
most of the trees, carrying out intensive monocropping, “moving on when the land
is exhausted” (Varley and White, 1958: 120). In this way, the tenants had rendered
much of the area “completely useless for farming for many years to come” (Varley
and White, 1958: 93).
In cropping the land, Ayigbe migrant-tenant farmers make extensive use of the
hoe, which erodes biodiversity by damaging plant propagates or seed stock
embedded in the soil.
In a PLEC sample questionnaire survey of farmers by household in the three
sites, the question was posed, “What do landlords do that might inhibit conserva-
tion or optimal management of agrodiversity and associated natural/land/biophys-
ical resources, such as trees?” With a percentage score of 89.7, high, exacting, or
exploitative tenancy was the most frequently mentioned factor. It was followed by
short duration of tenancies (64.1 per cent), uncertain nature of tenancy (46.2 per
cent), and failure by landowners to grant permission for tree planting by tenants
(35.9 per cent).
Another question posed was, “On balance, which one would you consider
to be more favourable for conservation or optimal management of agrodiversity
and associated natural/land/biophysical resources, such as trees - tenancy, or
abusua
(the kinship arrangement that entitles owners free use of land)?” The
abusua
system was cited as the most favourable by the majority of the respon-
dents. Its percentage score was 91.7 compared to 8.3 for tenancy.
The kinship arrangement may be a better conserver of biophysical resources
simply because it does not involve a compelling need to overexploit such
resources to meet exacting tenancy obligations.
In Sekesua-Osonson, as in other areas settled by migrant Adangbe-speaking
people, an aspect of resource tenure that favours biodiversity, most especially in
home gardens is the
huza
system (Table 18.1). According to one account,
The
huza
land is shared into individually owned longitudinal strips called
zugba
. Homes,
or dwelling units, are constructed at the base of each
zugba
, giving rise to a linear settle-
ment pattern that contrasts with the nucleated pattern typical of Akan areas. From the home
area, farming proceeds in the same general direction along the
zugba
, uninhabited by other
dwelling units, unlike what frequently happens in built-up nucleated settlements. Gardens
commonly of the agroforestry type, are developed within a few hundred metres from the
zugba
home.
The home garden agroforestry type contains virtually all the varieties of crops found
in the non-home garden type and more. (Gyasi, 2002: 250-251; see also Chapter 12 of
this topic)
In Gyamfiase-Adenya, rights of harvesting fuelwood or firewood occurring
naturally in a farm popularly belong to the farmer, whether the person is the
landowner or not. As the arrangement benefits landowner and tenant alike, it is
reasonable to expect it to favour tree conservation.
