Cassava production and processing in a cross-cultural sample of african societies

Behavior Science Research • Vol/Iss. 26 (1-4) • Sage • • Published In • Pages: 87-119 •
By Romanoff, Steven, Carter, Simon, Lynam, John

Hypothesis

"Cassava reliance, relative to other crops (contribution to the diet and occupation of the land), should increase with population pressure (density adjusted for length of dry season) on agricultural resources)" (p.100).

Note

"...the indexes of cassava in the diet are not related to the hypothesized determinants" (p.101).

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
CorrelationNot SupportedNot SignificantUNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Population DensityIndependentComposition Of Population
Cassava ProductionDependentVegetable Production
Pressure on ResourcesIndependentPopulation, Gratification And Control Of Hunger

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
Romanoff, StevenSocieties in the cassava belt of Africa with landholding kinship groups will rely more on cassava than other societies. Proximity to market towns (or transportation) and population pressure will favor the market economy and are inimical to the continuing existence of such societal characteristics (p.102).
Winkelman, Michael JamesPopulation density, population pressure, internal and external war for land and resources, and a low hierarchical focus of religion will be positively associated with human sacrifice (285, 294).
Romanoff, Steven"Cassava will be more important where there are fewer food-getting strategies (less of a mix of subsistence strategies, wage labor, cash crops, government supplies, etc.); in turn food diversity will be positively associated with such cultural ecological variables as markets, access to markets, population density, and more elaborate technology" (p.101).
Romanoff, StevenProcessing technology will be more highly developed (mechanized) under the same conditions in which agricultural technology is more intense (p.106).
Nolan, Patrick D.Population pressure, indicated by above-median population density for a given subsistence type, will be positively associated with warfare (27).