Tropicultura (Jan 2006)
Les arbres dans les systèmes agraires en zone sahélienne du Niger: mode de gestion, atouts et contraintes
Abstract
Trees in the Agrarian Systems of the Sahelian Zone of Niger: Management Practices, Benefits and Constraints. In the Sahelian regions, tree is an integrated part of the farming systems. The present study concerns the tree management practices, their benefits and constraints. A survey was conducted in 7 village sites of the southwestern part of Niger according to a southnorth aridity gradient in order to understand how rural people manage trees in their farms. The objective was to analyse the systems, tree management practices, benefits and constraints. The results show that rural people of the arid zone manage and preserve trees in their farms better than the population of the semi-arid zone. Land fallow is practiced in 87.91% of the plots for a mean period of 4.4 years. Land clearing was also practiced by 98.9% of the questionned farmers and the mean number of trees that were not cut varied from 8 in the semi-arid zone to 20 in the arid zone. Trees in the farms were used to delimitate farms boundaries, improve soil fertility, to prepare traditional medecine and as energy source and timber. The sociocultural habits of the people are the main constraint to an adequate management of the tree resources. To change the current situation, sensitization and extension efforts of the new developped tree management techniques have to be carried out especially in the semi-arid zone.
