Camel farming system in peri-urban areas in Niger: Characteristics and econometric evaluation of its attributes of goods and services

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the perception of the urban communities of Tahoua (Niger) of the goods and services provided by camel farming. A zootechnical survey was carried out in 2023 among 100 camel farmers in the area to characterize practices involved. Econometric modelling of the attributes linked to dromedary farming was carried out on 829 people chosen at random from the urban and peri-urban communities of Tahoua, using the most important and least important option scaling method. The results show that dromedary farming in the peri-urban environment of Tahoua is part of an extensive system. Most of the dromedary herd owners were elderly people and herd mobility was based on 100% transhumance. The main constraint faced by dromedary farmers was the expansion of agriculture to the detriment of grazing land, which made it more difficult for their herds to access pastoral resources. Whatever the approach (collective or individual) or the social status of the respondents (age and gender) considered, nutrition, pharmacy and guidance had, in this order, the greatest weight in the utility function of the dromedary and thus appeared to be the most important services and goods provided by dromedary farming from the point of view of urban communities. Nevertheless, the least important goods and services to retain from dromedary farming would be its status as a desert boat, a leisure activity, its miraculous power and its status as a night candidate. If the results obtained in this study are taken into account, they will not only help to promote the potential products of dromedary farming, but will also provide opportunities to combat poverty and malnutrition in Niger.

Keywords: Dromedary, Pastoralism, Livestock product, Service, Niger