Co-evolutionary scenarios of intensification and privatization of resource use in rural communities of south-western Niger

Abstract

Agricultural production in the semi-arid agro-ecosystems of the Sahel centres on cereal staple crops and pastoralism with increasing crop-livestock integration. Animals mobilize soil fertility through manure production, graze crop by-products, and transfer nutrients from distant pastures to cropped areas. Yet in these systems various interacting factors, i.e. climate variability, poor soil fertility, poverty, and institutional constraints limit the capacity of agriculture to keep pace with the growing needs of an increasing human population.The major trends associated with population growth are (1) increasing area cropped at the expense of rangelands; (2) reduced availability of and access to good quality grazing resources, and (3) seasonal migration of labourers and transhumance of herds. These trends lead to coevolution of farming systems towards increased privatisation of resource use.This study examines the implications of the development processes where farming systems co-evolve with their surroundings. It explores the impact of integrated management of livestock and crops in rural communities on both the livelihoods of differently endowed farms, and on the agro-ecosystem. Different scenarios explored the co-evolution of three sites situated in Western Niger with their environment. The sites differ in relative area cropped. simulate the different future outcomes for varying socio-economic and biophysical criteria with either current or more intensive management. Explorative bio-economic models are used to compare a range of farm, livelihood and ecological indicators, and to reveal social and ecological trade-offs.If current agro-ecosystems and their environments co-evolve towards increased privatisation of grazing resources, then soil fertility is likely to deteriorate on the lands managed by the agro-pastoral groups. Soil fertility may improve on lands managed by the livestock-scarce farmers settled in villages, at the cost of declining farm incomes. The agro-pastoral groups are likely to resort to more distant pastures for feed. The village-based, livestock-endowed farms will resort to feeding on on-farm crop residues. Intensification, though associated with relative decreases in real incomes, will enhance food security in these new systems, except for the poorer settled farmers.

Soil variability and crop yield gaps in two village landscapes of Burkina Faso

“…Several other studies (e.g. Chikowo et al 2014;Gandah et al 2003;La Rovere et al 2005;Tittonell et al 2005a) have shown that soil fertility management and the use of production inputs are strongly related to the degree of access to resources that farmers have (e.g. carts, cattle manure, labour, mineral fertilizers and cash/credit).…”

Crop–livestock interactions in agricultural and pastoral systems in West Africa

“…Processes of intensification of livestock production by pastoralists are taking place across West Africa (Ramisch 1998;Buhl 1999;Demirag 2004;La Rovere et al 2005). Processes which involve crop-livestock interactions are generally studied within an evolutionary framework of mixed-farming systems, rather than pastoral systems (Powell et al 2004).…”

Pastoralism and Socio-technological Transformations in Northern Benin

“…These changes align perfectly with the dynamics already observed in other African countries and particularly in the West African sub-region (cf. Ayantunde et al 2000;Boutrais, 2000: 184;Moritz, 2003;Mortimore, 2005;Juul, 2005a;La Rovere et al 2005;Moritz et al 2009). …”

“…Fulani pastoralists in northern Nigeria also rely upon various integrative practices to improve the productivity and the sustainability of their lands (Mortimore and Adams, 1998;Mortimore, 2003;. The integration of crops and livestock also allow Fulani herders in southwestern Niger to improve the productivity of their herds within a context of population growth and agricultural expansion (Ayantunde et al 2000;La Rovere et al 2005). Borana pastoralists in southern Ethiopia have shifted from pure pastoralism to agro-pastoralism in response to climate risks, rangeland degradation and population growth (Gemtessa et al 2007;Little et al 2010.).…”

“…For example, they use cereal residues and agro-industrial concentrated feedstuffs (cottonseed cake, groundnut cake, etc. ), available in many regions of Africa (Santoir, 1994;Van Driel, 1999;Ayantunde et al 2000;Moritz, 2003;Mortimore, 2003;Juul, 2005a;La Rovere et al 2005;Moritz et al 2009). Some pastoralists buy fodder sold in bundles to feed their animals in periods of scarcity and will also willingly commit all funds necessary for the survival and the productivity of their animals (Santoir, 1994: 253;Djohy and Edja, 2014).…”