Les aménagements hydro-agricoles des vallées de la Néma et de Médina Djikoye comme stratégies d’adaptation aux changements climatiques. Espoirs et vulnérabilités du socio-hydrosystème

Abstract

Severe rainfall deficits in the years 1968-1999 have led to lower agricultural production and farmers’ income in Senegal. In fact, agriculture is mainly rain-fed, so sensitive to rainfall fluctuations. It is in this context that unfavorable climate irrigation schemes have been made in the humid valleys of the Nema and Medina Djikoye to develop a diverse and intensive irrigated agriculture. The government of Senegal has benefited from the support of development partners who fully funded and built hydroagricultural works, irrigation schemes. Each partner had designed facilities, but the lack of consistency between the objectives of stakeholders and farmers logic led to the abandonment of five developed areas. Since 1999, despite a return to normal rainfall, the effect of strong rainfall deficits persisted and justified the construction of anti-salt dikes. The beneficiaries involved in the development effort initiate a collective governance structures. Also, the agro-ecological potential valleys have attracted external more professional actors, strategies of access to land led to the loss of land for peasants.