CAMEL MEAT PRODUCER’S TYPOLOGY IN THE ALGERIAN NORTHERN SAHARA - CASE OF THE REGION OF SOUF

Abstract

A field survey involving 144 camel meat producers from Souf region the Algerian northern Sahara was implemented in order to establish a typology of camel meat producers and collect data on camel production strategies, and camel rearing place. The collected data allowed to identify 3 homogeneous groups of producers well distinguished between them after cluster analysis. (traditional rural breeders, breeders-fatteners and fatteners). The present study confirmed the predominance of camel fattening in the study area compared, to traditional camel rearing. In-depth technical and economical studies on the different types of producers are mandatory to evaluate the vulnerability of the different systems in order to ensure camel-rearing production sustainability in the arid region of the country.