TRANSHUMANCE CHEZ LES AGROPASTEURS OVINS DE DJELFA (ALGERIE): QUEL TYPE POUR QUEL AVENIR?

Abstract

Transhumance is still an important practice for many agropastoral sheep systems. By its feed and fodder inputs, it is essential for some agro-pastoralists. However, this conduct ensuring the equilibrium of these farming systems has been disrupted (changes in agricultural policies, changes in land use, increased population density as well as ovine livestock and increased climatic hazards), which has led to the emergence of diversified transhumance strategies and practices. This study aims to update the knowledge of the practice of transhumance through the analysis and valuation of spatiotemporal data from different institutions (Ministry of Agriculture, High Commission for the Development of the steppe, Universities, etc ...) and to study the importance of transhumance despite changes in the farms. The results of this study revealed 5 types of transhumance: continuous (35.0%), community (30.0%), winter (14.0%), summer (11.0%), and traditional (10.0%). They also confirm that in recent decades the contribution of transhumance remains insufficient to fill the local fodder deficit. It varies between 25 and 55%. For this purpose, agropastoralists are constantly adapting their transhumance routes / circuits to try to ensure the animal's feed needs. It appears that transhumance is vulnerable and should be secured with good governance: create an institution for transhumance and develop a policy of large-scale production and forage valorization.