CONVERSION OF TRADITIONAL VILLAGE GARDENS AND NEW ECONOMIC-STRATEGIESOF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN THE AREA OF BOGOR, INDONESIA

Multistoried village gardens in the vicinity of Bogor (West Java, Indo nesia) have long been essential multi-purpose production systems for l ow-income households. However, they are being subjected to important c onversion processes linked to socio-economic changes presently found i n overcrowded semi-urban zones. Determining factors in their developme nt are a high population increase and the rise of a market economy. So me gardens tend to specialize in commercial growing of fruits or of ex port crops, others are colonized by houses and associated home-gardens . Traditional gardens gradually lose their earlier ecological and econ omic features but also become a major asset for the modernization of v illage economy and society. In addition they bring socio-professional changes to villagers and play a determining role in the search for a n ew balance in the relationship between cities and villages.