Contenu du sommaire

Landscape of upland farming in central Nepal.-Such are the climate and the slopes of the southern side of Central Nepal High Himalaya, that the tropical crops and alpine grasslands, found on the same slope, make the coexistence of intensive agriculture and moved herds possible. The systems described here are now undergoing transformations which appear to be due to intensification of agriculture, result of population growth ; the description of the landscapes gives here some elements to grasp these transformations.

Negros, «sugar cane island» of the Philippines.-With more than sixty per cent of the production, Negros is the most important sugar cane island of the Philippines. The rapid growth of the plantations after 1855 has been possible thanks to the colonization by people coming from the island of Panay. In the XXe century first decades, the exports to the United States gave more impulsion, and only 18 centrifugal sugar mills took the place of the 750 small «muscovado» mills. After the second war destructions, and because of the prosperity of the 1960 decade, some new mills were constructed, but since 1974, the Philippine sugar has lost its preferential position in the U.S. market and the international competition produces commercial difficulties. In spite of the selection of the new varieties and the mecanization of some labours, the yield is not high. Medium and large estates (haciendas) are preponderant ; they employ permanent workers and seasonal cutters with small wages. Mills have very few canelands and rely on planters for the bulk of their cane requirements.

Franceville (Gabon). Activities and roles in the organization of its hinterland. -The present development in Franceville can be accounted for by economic motivations as well as political ones. The town is indeed the main town in High Ogooué, a province with great mining (uranium, manganese) and agrobusiness potentialities ; it is also the home province of some important political dignitaries of Gabon. In the past few decades, important changes have altered the landscape and increased Franceville's role, resulting in a population boom which saw numbers jump from 1 200 inhabitants in 1961 to 16 000 in 1976. The development, the cost of which is being paid for by the State and by the town of Franceville has caused the dividing up of some districts and the dispersal of the people over an area of contrasted topography. To-day there is a clear-cut differentiation, not only between the newly developed centre districts and those undeveloped at the periphery, but also between the social groups. The differentiation can easily be noted in the landscape. Thanks to its administrative role and its flow of trade with its hinterland, Franceville contributes to the organization of the latter, and its influence can be felt beyond the boundaries of the province. However this influence is somewhat limited by two mining towns : Moanda for maganese and Mounana for uranium. But there is, in High Ogooué, an urban hierarchy, the pole of which is Franceville and Moanda. The development of Franceville's economic activities, shown by its recent or planned industries, along with the plan to transfer certain services as well as the proposed new railway line points to better prospects for the town. Its population will continue to increase, in the same way as new needs, both ordinary and rare, will appear.