Fodder Potential Evaluation of Agro-Pastoral Sites Using Spatial Imagery Technology in the Cotton Production Zone of Mali, West Africa

Abstract

In the cotton production zone of Mali, the pastoral ecosystems dynamics is being observed over the last decades, its impact on animal production and rural household welfare raisin the issue of space management particularly from agriculture practices increase participation in the dynamics of these resources. Additionally, in the zone the livestock feed materials are largely based on the use of natural fodders. However, other resources available for livestock include crop residues and industrial concentrated livestock feeding product for alimentary extra portion. This study aimed to evaluate the forage potential of six sites in the cotton zone of Mali using spatial imagery technology and to establish a forage balance sheet at the scale of these pastoral zone. The chosen approach is about the use of Landsat images acquired via Google Earth. Digital processing of these images by using the color composition technic was performed to establish the land use dynamics from 1990 to 2019. The results showed a sharp decrease in the rangelands area in favor of agricultural practices land use. Between 1990 and 2019, the areas dedicated to rain-fed crops increased by 77, 131, 123 and 110 % respectively in Benguéné, Ziguéna, Nafégué and Kokélé. During the same period, fallow areas decreased by -36% in Ziguéna, -23% in Nafégué and -13% in Kokélé. In Benguéné village which is an old cotton production zone, the situation is the most striking (-42% of fallows areas decrease during the same period). The results confirmed that animals daily feeding needs are not met in the villages of Nafégué, Ziguéna and Benguéné. Moreover, the carrying capacity decreased in all these sites from 1990 to 2019 except Benguéné village where agricultural areas occupied more than 60% of the total area. In that village the carrying capacity is ensured by half.