AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS AND FOOD SECURITY IN THE SAHEL: THE CASE OF TOUKAR, SENEGAL by JEAN BAPTISTE FAYE A THESIS Presented to the Department of International Studies and the Graduate School of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts June 2013 THESIS APPROVAL PAGE Student: Jean Baptiste Faye Title: Agroforestry Systems and Food Security in the Sahel: The Case of Toukar, Senegal This thesis has been accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts degree in the Department of International Studies by: Dennis C. Galvan Chairperson Stephen R. Wooten Member Peter Walker Member and Kimberly Andrews Espy Vice President for Research and Innovation; Dean of the Graduate School Original approval signatures are on file with the University of Oregon Graduate School. Degree awarded June 2013 ii © 2013 Jean Baptiste Faye iii THESIS ABSTRACT Jean Baptiste Faye Master of Arts Department of International Studies June 2013 Title: Agroforestry Systems and Food Security in the Sahel: The Case of Toukar, Senegal Communities in the Sahel region are confronted with problems such as depletion of soil fertility, food insecurity, and climate change, which exacerbate poverty and malnutrition for the inhabitants. The farmlands in Toukar, Senegal, are rapidly denuded of native trees, mainly Acacia albida, that provide myriad benefits. Agroforestry systems, or the intentional use of trees in croplands, have become a potential vehicle to transform the capacities of subsistence farmers to achieve food security. The purpose of this study is to determine farmers’ attitudes about agroforestry, who seems to practice it and support it, who is unsure about its values, and who seems opposed to it. I find that farmers who practice a more intact historic version of the Serer farming system are the most supportive of agroforestry and tend to be wealthier, while people who are seemingly more modern are less likely to adopt it and tend to be poorer. iv CURRICULUM VITAE NAME OF AUTHOR: Jean Baptiste Faye GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOLS ATTENDED: University of Oregon, Eugene University of California, Berkeley Laney College, Oakland, California DEGREES AWARDED: Master of Arts, International Studies, 2013, University of Oregon Bachelor of Science, Conservation Resources Studies, 1998, University of California, Berkeley Associate of Science, Environmental Studies, 1996, Laney College AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST: Agricultural Sustainability and Climate Change Mitigation Development studies and Agrarian Change PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Field Organizer, Enda-Tiers Monde, 2002-2008 Adviser at the Africa Working Group, IDEX, 2000-2002 GRANTS, AWARDS, AND HONORS: Graduate School Award, University of Oregon, 2012-2013 Promising Scholars, University of Oregon, 2011-2012 v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am very thankful to the faculty at the Department of International Studies, especially to Professor Dennis Galvan for his mentoring and continual assistance during my two years of study. I am also very grateful to the University of Oregon Graduate School for providing me with the much needed funding and awards to complete my studies at the University of Oregon. This thesis would not have come to fruition without my family’s understanding and constant support, which motivated me throughout the whole process, and jookajaal to the people of Toukar. vi To Amsatou, Kaan, Fatou and Mouha vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................. 1 Importance of Agroforesty ............................................................................... 3 Methodology........................................................................................................ 9 Limitations of This Study................................................................................... 14 My Story ............................................................................................................... 15 Thesis Plan ........................................................................................................... 18 II. CASE BACKGROUND........................................................................................ 22 The West African Sahel ...................................................................................... 22 Senegal….............................................................................................................. 28 Toukar: Geography and History ...................................................................... 34 History of the Village ........................................................................ 36 Land Tenure........................................................................................ 39 Basic Agricultural Practices............................................................................... 40 How to Improve Soil Fertility .......................................................... 44 How to Limit Soil Erosion ................................................................ 46 Constraints to Food Security ............................................................................. 47 Basic Economy of Households.......................................................................... 49 Gender Division of Labor .................................................................................. 51 viii Chapter Page Family Structure.................................................................................................. 53 Education Profile................................................................................................. 54 III. LITERATURE REVIEW: CONCEPTS OF AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS.... 56 Potential Constraints of Agroforestry Systems .............................................. 74 IV. THE STORY OF AGROFORESTRY IN TOUKAR ......................................... 76 Patterns of Adoption of Agroforestry.............................................................. 76 The Pro-Agroforestry Category ........................................................................ 77 The Unsure Category ......................................................................................... 84 The Anti-Agroforestry Group of Farmers....................................................... 86 V. THE WEALTH HYPOTHESIS ........................................................................... 90 VI. WOMEN AND DEFORESTATION ................................................................. 111 VII. AGROPASTORALISM ..................................................................................... 120 VIII. ECONOMIES OF SUBSISTENCE VS. ECONOMIES OF COMMODIFICATION............................................................................................. 134 IX. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................. 145 Adoption Patterns............................................................................................... 146 Who Adopts......................................................................................................... 148 Implications for Agroforestry Promotion........................................................ 152 Implications from an Insider’s Perspective..................................................... 157 APPENDICES............................................................................................................ 161 A. QUESTIONNAIRE ........................................................................................ 161 B. PRINCIPAL TREE SPECIES AND THEIR USES....................................... 164 C. GLOSSARY OF FOREIGN WORDS............................................................ 166 ix Chapter Page REFERENCES CITED............................................................................................... 168 x LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. The Sahel Region................................................................................................. 23 2. Map of Senegal, and Senegal in Africa ............................................................ 29 3. Map of Toukar and its 11 Hamlets ................................................................... 35 4. Average of Wealth Index Scores....................................................................... 97 5. Virtuous Circle 1 ................................................................................................. 100 6. Virtuous Circle 2 ................................................................................................. 101 7. Wealth Index 2 without the opponent farmer ................................................ 104 8. Average of Agropastoral Index Scores ............................................................ 126 9. Agropastoral Index 2 without the anti-agroforestry farmer......................... 131 10. Average of Economy Index Scores for Subgroups......................................... 135 xi LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Conversion of Crop Yields ................................................................................ 13 2. Agroforestry Patterns. ........................................................................................ 77 3. Weights and Standardized-weights for Wealth Index .................................. 93 4. The Average Numbers for Wealth Components............................................ 102 5. The Average for Wealth Components (without the farmer) ........................ 103 6. Weights and Standardized-weights