Variabilité climatique et stratégies d’adaptation des riziculteurs de la Basse-Casamance (Sénégal)

Abstract

For several decades now, West Africa has been experiencing disrupted climatic conditions, marked by irregular rainfall and a significant rise in temperatures, with negative repercussions on the livelihoods of rural populations. In Basse-Casamance, Senegal, traditional rice-growing, the basis of the lineage heritage and the foundation of the Diola identity, is going through a crisis exacerbated by climate change. This study analyses the impacts of climate variability and the adaptation strategies of rice farmers in Basse-Casamance. The method combines the tools of environmental and social geography, namely the processing and analysis of climatic data, surveys using questionnaires and interview guides, and direct and participant observation sessions. Analysis of the rainfall and temperature data revealed a return to wetter conditions since the beginning of the 21st century, with high spatio-temporal variability in rainfall and a significant increase in average temperatures in Basse-Casamance. The surveys show that rice farmers are relying on their knowledge and know-how to adapt to climate variability, with public policies often out of step with local realities. Today, the rich knowledge and skills of these rice farmers are increasingly threatened by global change, limiting their capacity to adapt. The aim of this study is to contribute to the scientific debate on the knowledge, practices and innovations of local communities, and to examine the operationality of the agro-ecological transition in this context.

Keywords

• climate variability
• food security
• adaptation strategies
• agro-ecological transition
• traditional rice growing