Vulnérabilité Et Stragégies D’adaptation Des Systèmes De Production En Milieu Agricole Et Agropastoral Sénégalais : Entre Mobilité, Innovations Et Diversification Des Sources De Revenus (Ferlo Nord Et Centre)

Abstract

The silvopastoral zone, like other arid and semi-arid areas of Africa, is subject to the adverse effects of climate change. Observations for these regions include, among others, a decrease in crop yields, cultivated areas and length of seasons, accompanied by a decline in agricultural production. The purpose of this study is to analyze peasant strategies, in particular those of farmers and agro-pastoralists in the sylvopastoral zone. It takes place in a context of high rainfall variability and vulnerability linked to climate change characterized by major trends in the deterioration of environmental conditions. It focused on the use of field survey and interview data through data collection at 112 farm level. The results showed that climate change, perceived by the communities of the area, had impacts on the livelihoods of the communities through the low agricultural and livestock production, natural resources, the reduction or even the disappearance. of certain forest species. This situation has resulted in poverty and food insecurity at the farm level, hence resorting to a set of strategies to deal with the vulnerability of production systems largely dependent on rainfall. Indeed, the analysis of the data on the perceptions collected at farm level showed that hoarding through livestock (84.7%), diversification of crop types (69.3%), the use of cycle crops course (66.4%), rural exodus (49.6%). Off-farm adaptation strategies are among others mobility which has emerged as one of the major determinants of strategies in rural Africa, the rural exodus which is practiced as much by farmers as by pastoralists, emigration which marked the Sahelian populations and the diversification of sources of income which is a logical consequence of the search for cash.