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Is regional development in the area by the Office of Niger finally possible? Volume 12, issue 2, Juin 2001

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Authors
UMR 8586 PRODIG, Université de Poitiers, 96, avenue du Recteur-Pineau, 86000 Poitiers.
  • Page(s) : 71-85
  • Published in: 2001

Rehabilitation programmes initiated in the mid-1980s are beginning to pay off, as shown by the boom in irrigated areas managed by the Office of Niger. Despite real progress in crop yields, cropping techniques and increased involvement of local inhabitants in economic activities, the absence of any overriding regional development concept in the design of these agricultural programmes should be pointed out. This shortcoming is aggravating problems in the region: there are clear contrasts in the development of different irrigated areas, no investment has been focused on neighbouring dry areas, livestock populations are growing rapidly without management, and tree resources are being depleted throughout the irrigated area. This Sahelian region has an exceptional potential and new management initiatives are under way, but it is essential to take past errors into account while conserving the environment and enhancing social stability in this region.