The organization of rural society in the Sahel

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Title:	The organization of rural society in the Sahel
Authors:	Broekhuyse, Jan Sall, Alioune
Year:	1989
Pages:	44
Language:	English
Series:	Bulletin ... (ISSN 0922-7911)
City of publisher:	Amsterdam
Publisher:	Royal Tropical Institute
ISBN:	9068328034
Geographic term:	Sahel
Subjects:	rural society land use agricultural land agricultural ecology
Abstract:	This paper describes the evolution of ecological, social and political systems in the Sahel region, defined here as a geopolitical/agroclimatic unit, and reviews existing production systems. The organization of rural society has traditionally been derived from production systems and their transformation, accordingly, requires a transformation in many cultural concepts as well as in lifestyle and social structures. After describing the evolution of the ecological and production systems of breeders and farmers - Tuareg nomads, Fulah transhumants, sedentary agriculturalists -, the evolution of social systems and values in rural Sahelian society, and the evolution of political systems and development policies, the authors look at the lessons to be learned from the past. They argue that development policies have been based on implicitly erroneous postulates. Agricultural policy has failed on three points: the participation of the population, the approach to systems of production and the spread of technical innovation. The first two points in particular are crucial in any search for alternatives to the current impasse.