Système lignager, moteur de l'expansion de la culture cotonnière ? Le cas des Bwa du Burkina Faso

Lineage organization, motor of the cotton farming growth? The Bwa of Burkina Faso. In Burkina Faso, country producing cotton, the social situations, the results and performances of the cotton farmers are various. The present research focus on the cotton area of Houndé in the Bwaba region. It is one of the most productive areas of the country where the growth of cotton has been a success story. The reasons for this success are analysed in the village called Dossi, focusing on the links between the cotton growth and the social organization, particularly the lineage one. The national cotton production is based on the Cotton Groups Farmers. Dossi's analysis shows that two kinds of relationships organize Cotton Groups Farmers: relationships between founding lineages and hosted families on one hand, relationships between elders and subjected members of the lineages on the other hand. The traditional lineage organization, adapting and rationalizing cotton production's management, became one of the key to cotton's success, in the area of Houndé. The cotton business could grow because it did not challenge the traditionnal organization. Nevertheless, economic and social inequalities increased with the development of cotton production in the villages. Today, belonging to a founding lineage is decisive in the cotton production context. However, social transformations are in progress inside founding lineages. Indeed some cadets manage big farms whereas it would have been impossible fifty years ago. Farm advice should be given according to the lineage position of each farmer. It would guarantee for all farmers the improvement of their social and economic condition. Today, it is necessary to strengthen rural cotton farming communities because they are weakened by the privatization of a part of cotton industry in Burkina Faso.