An agrarian system refers to the functioning of a type of agriculture in relation to a human society in a given environment. The size and shape of plots, the distribution of land ownership, the respective weight of crops and livestock, the type of irrigation, or the choice of crops are components of the agrarian system and are the result of the series of collective decisions of the societies that set it up and developed it (and the balance of power between social groups). The bocage in Western France, the Mediterranean huerta, the Tanzanian and Ugandan garden forests, the Australian ranching, are examples of agrarian systems: organic agriculture, traditionnal agriculture, agro-ecological transition, precision agriculture, etc.
Comprendre les enjeux de l'agriculture