Landscape management is often referred to as a holistic concept, which deals with large-scale processes and multidisciplinary manners in regards to natural resource use with ecological and livelihood considerations. Seen in this light, landscape transformation should be understood within the context of the human-nature relationship, viewing human activities and their institutions as an essential part of the system rather than as external agents. When it comes to the landscape planning and management related to cotton farming in Gujarat, there has been diversity of interest groups such as local communities, governments, corporations and non-governmental organisations. In the present study, I examine two case studies of cotton production pertaining to the Gujarat region in order to study the opportunities and challenges faced by local farmers in the process of developing agriculture. In the first case study on Cotton Improvement Program in the nineteenth century, I highlight the socioecological consequences of the colonial cotton project and how it relates to the social dynamics of networks and agricultural landscape management. The second case study examines current debates regarding the social, economic and environmental impacts of genetically modified (GM) cotton on India’s social and natural landscape. This thesis emphasises that there are recursive motifs between the two case studies in terms of the local resistances, power relations and possible environmental effects, which can be explained through the state of ‘global core’ and ‘periphery’, and partly the framework of ecologically unequal exchange. The analysis of recurring patterns concludes that exploring the narratives of local experiences offers a number of significant details that show complex power dynamics manifested through constant struggles and resistances by ‘peripheral agent’.

Submitted by Emanuel Varela Cardoso (emanuel.varela@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-09-28T18:09:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ANTONIO ANTUNES DE MELO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGRN) 2018.pdf: 4986559 bytes, checksum: 8e10fb2268c978b6e2d789a1a91509fe (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-28T18:09:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ANTONIO ANTUNES DE MELO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGRN) 2018.pdf: 4986559 bytes, checksum: 8e10fb2268c978b6e2d789a1a91509fe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-03-01 / CNPq / O processo de desenvolvimento e reprodução do espaço pelas sociedades urbanas vem ocorrendo de forma desordenada em todo o planeta, a ponto de causar impactos ambientais irreversíveis. Uma alternativa entre tantas, é o uso agrícola planejado de águas residuárias e composto orgânico oriundo de resíduos sólidos urbanos. Para atender as premissas inicialmente propostas, conduziu-se o experimento em casa de vegetação nas instalações da UFCG, tendo como eixo norteador da pesquisa, o cultivo do algodão herbáceo, variedade BRS safira. O delineamento estatístico utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, em um esquema fatorial com tratamento adicional (5 x 2+1) x 3. As fibras dessa variedade têm uma tonalidade marrom avermelhado que é naturalmente colorido. Além do composto orgânico de origem doméstica, usou-se dois tipos de água (W1 – água de abastecimento e W2 - água residuária tratada). A testemunha foi tratada com fertilizante químico. A pesquisa teve como base de sustentação filosófica, a necessidade de se trabalhar com essas duas variáveis a partir de uma perspectiva socioambiental, usando como instrumento, os dados levantados junto aos cooperados da usina de reciclagem de Esperança-PB. Como resultado verificou-se que em relação aos aspectos positivos do trabalho na cooperativa, 53% dos entrevistados afirmaram que o mais importante na relação com a na usina é a possibilidade de manter a família dignamente. Enquanto 29% declararam que o ganho seguro, mesmo sendo pouco, é o que mais estimula a permanência nesse tipo de atividade. Em relação ao cultivo do algodão, constatou-se que nas condições que o experimento foi desenvolvido, o composto orgânico pode substituir a adubação química, uma vez que a produção das plantas adubadas com o composto oriundo da cooperativa e tratadas com água de reuso, não diferiram das que receberam fertilizante químico. / The process of development and reproduction of urban space by societies has been occurring in way disordered in the whole planet, to point of cause irreversible environmental impacts. One alternative between so many, is the planned agricultural use of wastewater and organic compound originating from urban solid residues. To meet the premises initially proposed we conducted an experiment vegetation house in the facilities of UFCG and having as a guiding research, the cultivation of cotton herbaceous, variety BRS sapphire, whose fibers have a reddish brown shade, naturally colored using two variables, wastewater and organic compound, both from domestic origin. The research had as base of philosophical sustentation, a work gone back toward an environmental perception, initially using as instrument, a cooperative of collectors of Esperança-PB. As result was verified that in relation to the positive aspects of work in the cooperative, 53% of the interviewees affirmed that the most important in the plant is capable of maintaining the family dignity. While 29% said that gaining insurance, same being little, is what more stimulates the permanence in this work type. In relation to the cultivation of cotton was found that in the conditions that the experiment was developed, the organic substratum and wastewater can replace the chemical manuring, once the production of the plants treated with these variables did not differ from that received chemical fertilizer.