SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ARID ZONES: TO WHICH SPACES? AND WHICH SOCIETY? (CASE OF THE PROVINCE OF OUARGLA – ALGERIA)

Abstract

Having lived for centuries as part of a harmonious development adjusting the growth of spaces and agricultural production to the rate of growth of the population, the agriculture in Ouargla knows, strong changes following the policies creating new agrarian spaces and promoting a new category of farmers. Thus, in Ouargla there are two types of agriculture, one belonging to the oases, located in the old spaces and the other, new, dominated by neofarmers and placed in new areas. In order to know what types of agricultural areas and what category of farmers the sustainability of agriculture is based on, we examined four indicators namely, production, human component, sectors and natural potentialities. Encouraging the reconstitution of economically viable farms and the encouragement of oases are strongly recommended. Winning new spaces remains feasible in determining production priorities and favoring promising neo-farmers.