Cassava in shifting cultivation : a systems approach to agricultural technology development in Africa

The background of this study forms the debate about the nature and causes of the 'African crisis', the declining food availability per head of the African population. Generalized statements on African agriculture, based on aggregated production figures, however, do not adequately reflect the diversity in performances between crops and regions and do not allow the formulation of solutions adapted to local situations. In order to gain a better understanding of the African crisis, changes in cassava production in the Kwango-Kwilu region in central Zaire are analysed in detail. This analysis involves factors of different natures and rates of change. For that reason, a framework is developed that allows the integration of technical and socio-economic aspects of crop production. This framework draws upon ecological system analysis and, to a lesser extent, on farming systems research.