Introduction

This chapter addresses theoretical and methodological concerns of multi-sited research with reference to a study of khat in Madagascar. The bushy khat plant, whose leaves are chewed fresh for a mild amphetamine effect, grows well in the cool temperatures of the Mt. d’Ambre region in northern Madagascar. Khat first arrived in Madagascar with Yemeni dock workers, hired under a French colonial regime, in the early to mid twentieth century. Its growing local popularity has meant a significant increase in revenues for farmers over the last 10–15 years. Today khat is primarily chewed in Yemen, in parts of the Horn of Africa, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and in immigrant communities from those regions abroad (Carrier and Gezon 2009).

By localizing Malagasy khat production within a broader context, this chapter investigates links between the economic processes of production, distribution, and consumption – often referred to as a commodity chain. These interconnected dynamics occur in multiple geographically dispersed locations, involving many different actors. Understanding the effects of khat requires research in multiple locations to determine how geographically dispersed variables affect each other. The draw toward a multi-sited approach emerged from a general interest in explaining forest degradation, with the question: What are the major pressures on the Mt. d’Ambre forests? Upon learning that khat production had increased tremendously on the north and east sides of the Mt. d’Ambre, a more focused question emerged: What is the relationship between the expansion of khat production and deforestation? We hypothesized that people are cutting down forests in order to grow khat. A multi-sited approach, focusing on the commodity chain, made sense for understanding how demand outside of the immediate region of production influenced local decision-making and land use patterns.