Agroforestry innovation by smallholders facing uncertainty: The case of clove-based cropping systems in Madagascar

Clove production in the eastern coastal region of Madagascar is typical an export crop grown by particularly vulnerable smallholders. Products from clove trees, along with vanilla, account for largest proportion Madagascar’s agricultural exports. There a marked contrast between national economic stakes and situation smallholders hampered fluctuating world market prices, erratic climate this cyclone-prone area, land fragmentation due to high demographic pressure. trees were first introduced French settlers monospecific plantations according their development model. These dominate landscape but appear at sight be deteriorating, thus mobilizing R&D actors intention improving sector. What if it turned out, on contrary, that farmers had gradually developed, over generations, diverse diversified systems adapted prevailing uncertainty? This what we wanted test implementing method combining farmer surveys field observations. We assumed density associated identification species within these stands, tree growth status, reflected past present dynamics sought-after functions. In two Fenerive-Est villages, analysed findings sample thirty plots, revealed six different types system terms vegetation structure, combinations ages. The trend was favour maintenance renewal, also diversification uses underlying layers, detriment per-hectare density. evolved age trees. Interventions improve must designed framework diversified, multifunctional evolving systems, without overlooking other derivative components products.