'Jardin Creole' : domestic food production by the peasantry in Trinidad and Guadeloupe, 1897-1946
This thesis is a comparative economic study of domestic food production by the peasantry in two West Indian societies, Trinidad and Guadeloupe. It examines the period 1897 to 1946; Trinidad was then under British rule while Guadeloupe was a French colony. The study relates the evolution of domestic food production to fluctuations in export agriculture, revealing a strong inverse relationship between the two, in both colonies. The level of food imports also stimulated or stiffled domestic food production. Therefore, the domestic agricultural sector in Trinidad and Guadeloupe alike was never autonomous. The study draws on underdevelopment theory to highlight the analysis. The role of the colonial government is the major contrast between the two colonies. In Guadeloupe, except during W.W.II, the government was extremely supportive of the peasantry and their domestic food crops. In Trinidad, on the other hand, the government was largely indifferent, except during the Second World War. The difference in policy stemmed from republicanism in Guadeloupe and the Crown colony system in Trinidad. The study relies heavily on (basic) statistical information as well as other primary data. But information on domestic food
Taitt, Glenroy Ruthven Peter
French West Indies
'Jardin Creole' : domestic food production by the peasantry in Trinidad and Guadeloupe, 1897-1946. This thesis is a comparative economic study of domestic food production by the peasantry in two West Indian societies, Trinidad and Guadeloupe. It examines the period 1897 to 1946; Trinidad was then under British rule while Guadeloupe was a French colony. The study relates the evolution of domestic food production to fluctuations in export agriculture, revealing a strong inverse relationship between the two, in both colonies. The level of food imports also stimulated or stiffled domestic food production. Therefore, the domestic agricultural sector in Trinidad and Guadeloupe alike was never autonomous. The study draws on underdevelopment theory to highlight the analysis. The role of the colonial government is the major contrast between the two colonies. In Guadeloupe, except during W.W.II, the government was extremely supportive of the peasantry and their domestic food crops. In Trinidad, on the other hand, the government was largely indifferent, except during the Second World War. The difference in policy stemmed from republicanism in Guadeloupe and the Crown colony system in Trinidad. The study relies heavily on (basic) statistical information as well as other primary data. But information on domestic food
creole domestic food production peasantry comparative economic study domestic food production peasantry west_indian society examine period british_rule french colony study relate evolution domestic food production fluctuation export agriculture reveal_strong inverse_relationship colony level food import also stimulate domestic food production therefore domestic agricultural sector alike never autonomous study_draw underdevelopment theory highlight analysis role colonial_government major contrast colony except wwii government extremely supportive peasantry domestic food crop hand government largely indifferent except second_world_war difference policy stem republicanism crown colony system study relies heavily basic statistical information well primary_data information domestic food