Browsing by Author "Painter, T. M."
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Bringing land back in: Changing strategies to improve agricultural production in the West African SahelPainter, T. M. (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1987)The chapter examines the difficulties encountered by programmes of the Niger government and development assistance organizations to increase agricultural productivity among peasant smallholders, when such endeavours lack a satisfactory understanding of the context and conditions of agricultural production. Following an overview of the harsh yet varied physical conditions of rainfed production in Niger, the strategy of the Niger government to effect improvements in rainfed agriculture, particularly after the serious drought of 1968-74, are discussed. This strategy took the form of large regional rural development projects, referred to as productivity projects because of their goal of increasing land productivity in agriculture. The productivity project strategy is critically assessed and a specific project in western Niger is examined in some detail. The project's lack of positive impact on agricultural productivity is considered, and possible reasons are given. The chapter closes with a discussion of current endeavours by the Niger government to devise new, more effective, strategies to improve agriculture in the country. (CAB Abstract)
- Getting it Right: Linking Concepts and Action for Improving the Use of NR in Sahelian AfricaPainter, T. M. (1993)This paper summarizes the key issues in the aménagement/gestion des terriors villageois (AT/GT) approach to improving community level management of natural resources implemented in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger during late 1990. The approach has been conceived as a global, multisectoral, integrated, participatory and long term approach to agrarian livelihoods in the risk-prone Sahelian region. The AT/GT approach promotes the terrior villageois as a unit of analysis and as a unit for assisting local intervention. The origins and essential features of the AT/GT approach are considered in this paper, along with the key issue of participation. The paper also considers the interaction between AT/GT and local level development structures, both those pre-existing colonialism and those since introduced by the independent state. In both cases the paper highlights the importance of a supportive policy environment. The AT/GT approach holds considerable promise for NGO efforts to promote involvement in improving agricultural production through raising concern for the physical environment and more effective management of resources. The paper concludes that many NGOs and government organizations rush ahead with policy adopting AT/GT terminology without a fundamental change in practices taking place. The paper lastly considers a number of problems with the approach. (CAB Abstract)