Rural Social Networks along Amazonian Rivers: Seeds, Labor and Soccer among Communities on the Napo River, Peru

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Research on Amazonian communities has focussed more often on ruralurban linkages than on links among rural communities. This is unsurprising, given the low density of population, limited intercommunity commerce, and importance of direct city-market relations. Social relations among rural communities are also important in shaping rural livelihoods and lifeways. We report on the findings of a large-scale census of communities in the Napo River basin in northeastern Peru (n=174). Data were gathered on intervillage crop seed acquisition and cooperative labor sharing as two key inputs in agriculture, and on intervillage soccer matches, which are integral to rural social life. We analyze the socio-spatial networks of each practice, paying attention to settlement patterns, community ethnicity, and differential access to the uplands. We find that seeds and labor flow along soccer network lines. Rural social networks appear to be structured strongly by ethnicity (homophily) and reflect important complementarities between upland and lowland communities (weak ties).

Farming systems on alluvial soils and their impact on the economy of the shipibo-konibo in Ucayali

“…Adicionalmente destacan las estrategias de los agricultores de combinar la agricultura, el aprovechamiento del bosque además de la pesca y caza (Porro et al, 2014;Porro et al, 2015;Coomes et al, 2016b). La agrobiodiversidad se conserva in situ por la persistencia de un sistema de abastecimiento de semillas en la comunidad y entre comunidades que forma redes de intercambio y distribución (Collado et al 2003;Abizaid et al 2016;Abizaid et al, 2018). Se identificó que las estrategias de obtención de semillas pueden variar si son cultivos perennes o anuales, si el producto es destinado para la subsistencia y el mercado y por su forma reproductiva de la especie (granos, estacas o hijuelos), es así que los shipibo-konibo recurren a sus propias plantaciones para propagar plátano y yuca, también pueden acudir a familiares y vecinos de quienes las obtienen regalado.…”

Inovação e Difusão de Tecnologia na Agricultura de Várzea na Amazônia

“…Some practical investigations in floodplain regions in Amazonia report that promotion and implementation of new farming practices enables communities to produce better quality agriculture, producing better yields for families that engage in farming activities in floodplain lands (Abizaid, Coomes, Takasaki, & Arroyo-Mora, 2018;Miltner & Coomes, 2015), which in turn reduces destructive practices (for example, illegal logging and predatory hunting and fishing) and improves families' means of subsistence (Cotta, 2015).…”

Technology Perspectives and Innovative Scenarios Applied in the Amazon Region

“…Previous research on promotion of integrated pest management, technical training, and technical visits to promote rural innovation has also been considered (Morrone, 2017;Sunding & Zilberman, 2002). The authors also draw from the Brazilian scenario, particularly studies on the practices in floodplain regions in the Amazon involving quality agricultural production with better income for families (Abizaid, Coomes, Takasaki, & Arroyo-Mora, 2018;Miltner & Coomes, 2015) use of innovative nondestructive practices (Cotta, 2015) which is the characteristic difference of common agricultural usage in the region.…”