[ Urbanisation et gestion des espaces agricoles périurbains d’Abidjan: Cas de Songon (Abidjan Ouest) ]
YEO Nalourou Philippe René1 and N’ZUE Kevin Fabrice2
1 Département de Sociologie, Université Péléforo Gbon Coulibaly de Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire
2 Département de Bioanthropologie, Institut des Sciences Anthropologiques de Développement, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Côte d’Ivoire
Original language: French
Copyright © 2026 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Urbanization is the process through which a society or territory transitions from a predominantly rural lifestyle to a mainly urban one. Although commonly associated with economic and social development, it causes significant spatial transformations, particularly increasing pressure on rural and peri-urban land. In Côte d’Ivoire, this issue remains insufficiently integrated into public planning policies, despite being a pressing reality. Local populations often do not fully perceive the challenges related to the sustainable management of agricultural spaces, which are vital for food security and the local economy. It is therefore essential to implement appropriate mechanisms to conserve these lands, especially in urban peripheries. Understanding land management practices provides a relevant starting point to analyze the tensions between urban expansion and agricultural preservation. This study, conducted in Songon, examines the management of agricultural spaces amid urbanization, identifying policies and local practices. The methodology combines documentary research, direct observation, semi-structured interviews, and a questionnaire survey. Twenty key actors, including customary and village authorities and relevant ministry officials, were interviewed using purposive sampling, while a simple random sample covered 204 landowners. The results highlight policies favoring urbanization over integrated agricultural management, leading to a significant reduction of agricultural land. Sustainable management of this limited resource requires collective awareness and coordinated action by institutional and local actors.
Author Keywords: Songon, urbanization, management, agricultural spaces, peri-urban areas.
YEO Nalourou Philippe René1 and N’ZUE Kevin Fabrice2
1 Département de Sociologie, Université Péléforo Gbon Coulibaly de Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire
2 Département de Bioanthropologie, Institut des Sciences Anthropologiques de Développement, Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Côte d’Ivoire
Original language: French
Copyright © 2026 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Urbanization is the process through which a society or territory transitions from a predominantly rural lifestyle to a mainly urban one. Although commonly associated with economic and social development, it causes significant spatial transformations, particularly increasing pressure on rural and peri-urban land. In Côte d’Ivoire, this issue remains insufficiently integrated into public planning policies, despite being a pressing reality. Local populations often do not fully perceive the challenges related to the sustainable management of agricultural spaces, which are vital for food security and the local economy. It is therefore essential to implement appropriate mechanisms to conserve these lands, especially in urban peripheries. Understanding land management practices provides a relevant starting point to analyze the tensions between urban expansion and agricultural preservation. This study, conducted in Songon, examines the management of agricultural spaces amid urbanization, identifying policies and local practices. The methodology combines documentary research, direct observation, semi-structured interviews, and a questionnaire survey. Twenty key actors, including customary and village authorities and relevant ministry officials, were interviewed using purposive sampling, while a simple random sample covered 204 landowners. The results highlight policies favoring urbanization over integrated agricultural management, leading to a significant reduction of agricultural land. Sustainable management of this limited resource requires collective awareness and coordinated action by institutional and local actors.
Author Keywords: Songon, urbanization, management, agricultural spaces, peri-urban areas.
Abstract: (french)
L’urbanisation désigne le processus par lequel une société ou un territoire passe d’un mode de vie essentiellement rural à un mode de vie urbain. Bien qu’associée au développement économique et social, elle entraîne des transformations spatiales importantes, notamment une pression accrue sur le foncier rural et périurbain. En Côte d’Ivoire, cette question reste peu intégrée aux politiques publiques, alors qu’elle constitue une réalité préoccupante. Les populations locales ne perçoivent pas toujours les enjeux liés à la gestion durable des espaces agricoles, pourtant essentiels à la sécurité alimentaire et à l’économie locale. Il est donc nécessaire de mettre en place des mécanismes adaptés pour préserver ces terres, surtout en périphérie urbaine. La compréhension des modes de gestion foncière constitue un point de départ pertinent pour analyser les tensions entre urbanisation et préservation agricole. Cette étude, conduite à Songon, analyse le processus de gestion des espaces agricoles face à l’urbanisation, en identifiant les politiques et pratiques locales. La méthodologie repose sur une approche mixte combinant recherche documentaire, observation directe, entretiens semi-directifs et enquête par questionnaire. Vingt acteurs clés, dont les autorités coutumières et villageoises et des agents des ministères concernés, ont été interrogés selon un échantillonnage raisonné, tandis qu’un échantillonnage aléatoire simple a porté sur 204 propriétaires terriens. Les résultats révèlent une politique favorisant l’urbanisation au détriment d’une gestion intégrée des espaces agricoles, entraînant un recul significatif du foncier. La gestion durable de cette ressource limitée nécessite une mobilisation collective et coordonnée des acteurs institutionnels et locaux.
Author Keywords: Songon, urbanisation, gestion, espaces agricoles, périurbain.
