TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF CROP DESTRUCTION BY STRAY ANIMALS, VILLAGE ELDERS ENCOURAGED TWO ASSOCIATIONS OF YOUNG UNMARRIED LABORERS TO FORM AN ANIMAL PATROL. THE PATROL PROJECT, WHICH INVOLVED THE ESTABLISHMENT AND VILLAGE-WIDE ENFORCEMENT OF NEW RULES, GREATLY EXPANDED THE LEGAL FUNCTIONS OF THE YOUTH ASSOCIATIONS AND LED TO CONFLICT AMONG YOUTHS, ADULTS, AND ELDERS. THE CONFLICT CAUSED THE ELDERS TO WITHDRAW THEIR SUPPORT OF THE PATROL PROJECT AND EVENTUALLY LED TO THE PROJECT'S DEMISE. THE PATROL INNOVATION TEMPORARILY BUT OVERTLY DREW INTO QUESTION THE BASIS AND EXTENT OF ELDERS' CONTROL OVER THE VILLAGE'S YOUNG LABORERS AND POTENTIAL SPOUSES, REVEALING THE CHANGING PATTERN OF ECONOMIC AND INTER-GENERATIONAL RELATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE PATROL INNOVATION FAILED BECAUSE THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE ON WHICH IT WAS PREMISED HAD ALREADY BEEN ALTERED BY CHANGES IN MIGRATION AND MARRIAGE PATTERNS THAT HAD RESULTED FROM THE INTEGRATION OF THE VILLAGE INTO THE NATIONAL ECONOMY. THE VILLAGE'S EXPERIENCE DEMONSTRATES HOW NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY CAN DISRUPT SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. --SUMMARY IN FRENCH. (LKM)