Smallholder farmers practices of crops livestock integration in the district of Aguié (Niger): Characterization of farms

Abstract

Crop production and livestock are main economic activities of most of populations in Maradi region. A study was carried out in order to characterize farms in terms of farming practices of crops livestock integration in 4 villages of Aguié. The results of surveys randomly conducted on a sample of 78 farmers showed that farmers were categorized into two groups, which are farmers (67%) and agro-pastoralists (33%). However, the multivariate analysis of data highlighted existence of three categories of agro-pastoralist farmers, distinct in terms of their means of existence and levels of integration. The category were big farms (BF)(41%), medium farms (MF) (33%) and small farms (SF) (26%). Regarding average annual incomes, BF have 375,653 FCFA, MF 172,235 FCFA and SF have only 73,167 FCFA. The average land capital held by BF is 8 hectares, MF own 3 ha and SF have 1.8 Ha. For integration parameters, organic manure (OM) fertilization ratio is 4.4 cattle cart per hectare in BF, while MF put 5 per hectare against 9 in SF. For mineral Fertilizer, BF used 40 kg/Ha, against 25 kg/ha for MF and 15 Kg/ha for SF. The yield, for cereal crops, is higher in SF with 464.6 kg/Ha, 336 kg/ha for EM and 306 kg/ha for BF.