Evaluation of hydro-agricultural techniques and assessment of know-how implemented by traditional societies: Case of the region of Béni-Snous in the city of Tlemcen – Algeria

Abstract

AbstractIn the past, rural society has always been able to implement some forms of community management of space, water and land that have served as a support for the survival of populations that are often too large for the available resources. The mountainous region of Béni-Snous offers a wide variety of strategies for water and soil fertility conservation management; it presents a form of adaptation of man to the strong physical constraints and thus constitutes a hydro-agricultural and cultural heritage which unfortunately has not yet aroused all the interest it deserves and of which one can be inspired. The ingenuity of these traditional systems, which have survived throughout history, challenges us to analyse and study these systems more seriously, particularly from the technical and organizational side. Our study was conducted in this context. The present work aims to evaluate the traditional systems of water and soil fertility conservation management, which are encountered on the mountains of Béni-Snous, which is characterized by a semi-arid climate. These systems represent a kind of creativity that is, at the same time, practical, organizational and social. The assessment of the state of water and soil management and conservation structures showed that 78% of them are currently functional and valorised. Given their importance, all mobilization and water management structures are still functional; they showed a good cost-effectiveness ratio.