| Summary: | This paper explores farming practices in valleys of the Loir, Sarthe and Mayenne rivers within the Maine watershed in north-western France, and their representations by farmers and other rural stakeholders. The three basins differ considerably in their morphology and land uses. This research was realized in perspective that natural resources management and rural development in France are guided by European politics, especially for water and aquatic environments. In order to study farming practices and their representations in these spaces, an analysis of farming systems was conducted through semi-directive interviews with farmers and agriculture public officials. The twenty-one interviews allow us to i) identify the kind of relationship that exists between farmers and water resources, ii) to discern some factors that influence farmers in managing their farming system and valley land use, and iii) to extract some representations of users living along rivers, in valleys, about their environment and their practices, and from there, to better understand their positioning with their environment. Thus, it is possible to highlight some initiatives taken by farmers towards a sustainable agriculture, consistent with valleys functions and other economic activities in place.
|
|---|