The Cashew Frontier in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa: Changing Landscapes and Livelihoods

Temudo, Marina Padrão; Abrantes, Manuel

doi:10.1007/s10745-014-9641-0

Cited by 53 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Fire is a common feature in the savannahs and woodlands of Guinea-Bissau and a further issue deserving attention is the relationship between fire and cashew orchards. Since cashew flowering and fruit bearing are significantly affected by fires, a decrease in the number and intensity of bushfires in areas of intensive cashew cultivation is likely (Temudo and Abrantes, 2014).…”

Section: Final Remarksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cashew cultivation in Guinea-Bissau – risks and challenges of the success of a cash crop

Catarino

Menezes²,

Sardinha

2015

Sci. agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.)

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In recent decades a boom in cashew (Anacardium occidentale) cultivation has taken place in Guinea-Bissau, leading to the replacement of traditional slash-and-burn agriculture by a cash crop. As a result, the country is currently one of the world's largest producers of raw cashew nuts and the cashew sector has acquired enormous importance in Guinea-Bissau's economy. Changes induced by the cashew boom at social and environmental levels are yet to be analyzed and understood. The present study provides an account of the process of cashew expansion in Guinea-Bissau, reviews the current situation and discusses its future prospects. The cashew tree was introduced into the country by the Portuguese in the XIXth century, but only effectively expanded in the mid-1980s. It is largely cultivated by small farmers around villages and also plays a role in land ownership, since land tenure practices are linked to the planting of trees.The effects of this cashew boom on habitat fragmentation, fire regimes and biodiversity are still to be assessed. On the other hand, the spread of pests and diseases is becoming a problem.Strong dependence on a single cash crop also renders the country vulnerable to market fluctuations, entailing risks to local producers and the national economy. In the medium term, losses of export earnings can occur, which may impact the living standards and food security of BissauGuineans both in urban and rural areas.

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Section: Final Remarksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cashew cultivation in Guinea-Bissau – risks and challenges of the success of a cash crop

Catarino

Menezes²,

Sardinha

2015

Sci. agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.)

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“…A number of interviewees were of the opinion that ‘cashew brought laziness’ during the years of the nuts’ high market price, since some people reduced their rice production and significantly increased their consumption of alcohol (see van der Drift, ; Temudo and Abrantes, ). Climate change also contributed to a reduction in food self‐provisioning.…”

Section: Setting the Scene: Rice And Balanta Men's Identitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More broadly, the cashew rent also made it possible for Balanta elders to free youths to engage in education and non‐agricultural activities, as their labour became less vital to achieve rice self‐sufficiency. At present, many farmers mention that the money, the wine and the rice obtained from cashew production are now used to reinvest by hiring workgroups to increase rice production (Temudo and Abrantes, : 226–7). As one farmer said, ‘The cashew [orchard] feeds the mangrove rice field and the mangrove rice field feeds the cashew orchard’.…”

Section: ‘The Rice Field Is Where Our Belly Is’: Agriculture As Root mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This article draws on long‐term research which focused on agricultural, environmental and social change and the impact of development and conservation interventions since 1993 (see e.g., Temudo, , , ; Temudo and Abrantes, , ). Starting in 2008, research was conducted by both authors, using a mixed‐methods approach which was largely qualitative, but which also included some quantitative data collection, transects and direct observation of fields and forests, as well as Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technologies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Pen and the Plough: Balanta Young Men in Guinea‐Bissau

Temudo¹,

Abrantes²

2015

Development and Change

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Up until the late 1990s, the Balanta of Guinea-Bissau constituted what could be described as a 'deep rural society', whose central identity was linked with rice production and cattle accumulation. At the same time, it could be argued that even in the early days after Independence in 1974, the social aspirations of Balanta young men matched those of other Guinean youths in their shared desire to get away from the strictures of gerontocracy and of rural life. Surprisingly, however, this study documents the agency of many rural Balanta young men in changing oppressive social rules, and in using agriculture as a means to fund their education, to feed their families and as a route to prosperity. The authors conclude that the persistent political instability in the country (most acutely felt in the capital city) and the national and global economic crises, together with the Balanta agricultural ethos and the softening of gerontocratic power, are at the root of this revaluing of rural livelihoods. This article challenges current dominant narratives about the crisis of young men in contemporary Africa and highlights the need to study the aspirations and achievements of youth in their rural-urban nexus from a historical and holistic perspective.

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“…In Guinea-Bissau, the oldest records of cashew trees date back to the 18th century in the western part of the country, although the exact date of introduction is unknown (Temudo & Abrantes 2014). By the early 20th century, a number of small experimental cashew fields had been established by the Portuguese (Bessa & Sardinha 1993).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

New Records of Insect Pest Species Associated with Cashew,Anacardium occidentaleL. (Anacardiaceae), in Guinea-Bissau

Vasconcelos

Mendes

Beja³

et al. 2014

African Entomology

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The Cashew Frontier in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa: Changing Landscapes and Livelihoods

Cited by 53 publications

References 19 publications

Cashew cultivation in Guinea-Bissau – risks and challenges of the success of a cash crop

Cashew cultivation in Guinea-Bissau – risks and challenges of the success of a cash crop

The Pen and the Plough: Balanta Young Men in Guinea‐Bissau

New Records of Insect Pest Species Associated with Cashew,Anacardium occidentaleL. (Anacardiaceae), in Guinea-Bissau

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