Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Long-term Europe-Africa Research and Innovation Partnership for Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture

Titre : CAMEL-SHIELD : Camel breeding systems : actors in the sustainable economic development of the northern Sahara territories through innovative strategies for natural resource management and marketing

Pays/Région : Algeria ; Morocco

Date : Start date 2020-06-01 // End date 2024-05-31

Identifiant : 239-CAMEL-SHIELD
Type de projet : Development and innovation oriented (research) project

Contexte
The functions of camel (Camelus dromedarius) breeding have undergone a significant evolution since the last century. It has long been considered the “vessel of the desert” because of its functions as a pack-saddle and for transporting people. They disappeared with motorization. The role of the dromedary was then confined to socio-cultural and hoarding aspects, especially as the environment of this livestock farming has undergone many transformations relating to : the management of livestock farming (e.g. mobility, feeding, etc.), the extension of crops (irrigated and phoeniculture), vegetal erosion of rangelands, population growth, urbanisation, climate change, etc. All these disturbances in the northern Algerian and Moroccan Sahara (study area) have induced strategies among camel herders. During the 2000s, herders adopted productivity strategies to sell camel milk and fattened young camels. These new approaches are trying to develop but seem to be hampered by organizational constraints and disturbances in the biophysical environment. The practices and strategies of these camel systems are evolving and still seem vulnerable. The challenge is to combine sociotechnical dynamics and ecosystem processes on resource use, in order to propose social solutions on the part of societies to support human activities and their local resources.

Objectif
The objective of the project is to develop value chain analyses and management tools for techno-economic systems. It aims to implement and design innovative strategies for resilience and efficiency in camel herds, exploiting the adaptability of production systems. These analyses and tools must meet the constraints of access to primary resources (vegetation & water), management of camel populations and animal product flows. They will also address future disturbances that may be caused by climate change in this region.

Coordinateur : Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD)
Partenaires : French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) University of Ouargla University of Bari Aldo Moro Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Sciences (IAV) Mohammed V University

Financement principal : Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) (H2020)
Budget : 871 372 EUR

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