Irrigated farm management in semi-arid area East Algeria

Abstract

The research presented in this paper focuses on the influence of irrigation water

use on crop diversity of the production system in semi-arid area of Algeria. We

hypothesis’ that farmers’ practices irrigation are explained by logics that need to be

understood at farm level. The study was accent in farms’ diversity stratification on

regional cart: the upper zone (UZ), the central zone (CZ) and the lower zone (LZ),

was carried out via quantitative data collection in 120 randomly chosen units. In a

second phase, 16 representative farms and 242 crop parcels, including 174 cereal

crop fields, were subjected to a technico-economic follow-up during two

consecutive years (CY1, CY2). We recorded periods and cropping methods on all

parcels and investigated farmers’ rationale wedding these practices. Resource

diversification and production cycles are based on availability and use of irrigation water and combine cereal and livestock production with other speculations such as:

feed crops, vegetables and potatoes. This diversification is more or less pronounced

according to farm type and area. It is stronger in the central and lower semi-arid

area mainly occurring on medium-sired and small farms. Irrigation has a big role in

explaining of crop diversity in semi-arid area.