In Niger, land degradation affects more than 100,000 hectares of arable land each year in a context where the need for agricultural and forestry products continues to grow. The objectives of this study, conducted in the commune of Kollo, are to evaluate the economic benefits of SLM and to analyze the dynamics of land use. The methodology of the study is based on a double approach, the use of cartography for the analysis of land use/land cover and cost-benefit analysis to calculate the economic benefits. The study took place in the commune of Kollo, precisely in Sakey Koira Tegui, on a silvopastoral site reclaimed in 2005 by the use of the Delfino plow. The main results show a significant regression (-40%) of natural vegetation formations in the commune, an increase (+10%) in degraded land and (+63%) in cultivated land. In terms of the use of ES, 63% of households use biomass from the site, 54% use NTFPs and 27% use wood. For a cost of 54,800 francs for the restoration of one hectare, the Net Present Value is 9,967,634 FCFA over a period of 13 years. Thus, for each franc invested in SLM, the return on investment is 182 francs.
Family farms in Moundou are facing the effects of climate variability. Due to increased rainfall variability and rising temperatures marked by an evolving trend, farm household incomes are increasingly affected. The objective of this study is to assess the effects of climate variability on the incomes of farm managers in order to contribute to a better understanding of the effects of climate variability on family farming. The study uses the Ricardian model to analyze the effects of rainfall and temperature variations and socioeconomic determinants on the incomes of farm managers. Data were collected from 105 farm managers distributed according to their wealth level. The results showed that an increase of 1 mm in average rainfall will lead to an increase of 1.2% FCFA/hectare of agricultural income, i.e., a gain of 1633 FCFA/hectare. On the other hand, a 1% increase in temperature will result in a 5.65% decrease in agricultural income, i.e., a loss of 7,692 FCFA/hectare on average. The analysis of the projected effects of climate variability through scenarios of increases in average temperatures of 1°C and 1.5°C and average annual decreases in rainfall of 5% and 8% showed that income losses will be accentuated. Thus, this situation calls for reflection on appropriate adaptation strategies to mitigate the adverse effects on family farming while taking into account the diversification of family farms.
Within the framework of the genetic improvement of cattle, in addition to the selection of the Azawak zebu which has been in progress for a long time, crossbreeding by artificial insemination between Alpine Brown and local breeds is being experimented. This work takes stock of this introduction on the performances acquired. The study was based on data from 68 lactations of pure Azawak zebu crosses and 68 lactations of pure Azawak zebus, from 104 dairy cows (52 crosses and 52 Azawak). Thus, the daily productions of the primipares and brown multipares of the Alps-Azawak are respectively 7.86 ± 1.47 Kg and 11.27 ± 3.89 Kg and those of the pure Azawak are 4.10 ± 1.03 Kg and 4.84 ± 1.15 Kg. The standard production (over 305 days of lactation) of the crossbreeds is 2398.04±448.17 Kg and 3445.47±1228.59 Kg in primiparous and multiparous respectively, and significantly higher than that of the Azawak (251.04±313.96 Kg and 1442.61±334.99 Kg). The total production is estimated at 2473.88±744.63 Kg and 3385.68±903.51 for the primiparous and multiparous crosses is almost double the Azawak values (1349.59 ± 393.40 Kg and 1301.72 ± 420.49 Kg). All of this shows that the crossbreeding carried out gives crosses with lactation performances well above those of pure Azawak and that artificial insemination is a method that allows to control its breeding and to have one calf per year. It will be necessary to continue the monitoring of these crossbreeds to evaluate the productivity of the breeding career of the crossbreed.