Ovine Husbandry In The Algerian Semi-Arid Zone: Contribution To The Resilience Of Agricultural Holdings To Climate Change And Economic Pressures

Abstract

This study sheds light on the significance of ovine husbandry in the resilience and sustainability of agricultural holdings. It seeks to develop a typology of holdings using qualitative variables and to examine the role of ovine husbandry in their resilience and sustainability. Qualitative data were collected in 2023 from 116 holdings engaged in ovine husbandry. A Principal Component Analysis for Categorical Variables (CATPCA), succeeded by a hierarchical cluster analysis, was employed to develop a typology. Four groups of holdings were delineated: (1) rainfed cereal agriculture and traditional ovine pastoralism, (2) rainfed and irrigated cereal agriculture with a focus on small ruminants, (3) rainfed cereal agriculture and diversified livestock, and (4) diversified mixed crop-livestock systems with irrigation access. Ovine husbandry is essential to the resilience of these holdings due to its robustness, capacity to use scarce forage resources, and function as a liquid capital reserve during crises. Irrigation access, production diversity, and a high proportion of ewes are key adaptation strategies, while only rainfed systems are susceptible to climate variability.

Recommendations encompass the promotion of animal and crop diversification, enhancement of irrigation access, selection of cereal types and ovine breeds suited to the semi-arid climate, and strengthening of sustainable natural resource management methods. An integrated crop-livestock strategy would enhance food security and the sustainability of agro pastoral systems in semi-arid regions.