Les aptitudes agricoles et pastorales des sols dans les pays du CILSS

Soil, through its characteristic parameters, constitutes a fundamental factor for understanding the agricultural and pastoral production in the Sahelian Countries and to manage risk factors that may affect crops . This study aims to realize a coherent and reliable integration of the available information collected by AP3A project on soil characteristics of the nine CILSS countries. To do this, a simple and understandable classification of soils and their essential qualities was established. Grids of suitability for each of the main crops were then defined to produce a map of agricultural and pastoral potential on the entire region. The specialists in food security and the policy makers are the first beneficiaries of this product, allowing them to better detect and prevent food crises at different levels (supranational, national and local). The availability of such mapping is also a basic element for implementing of natural resource management policies and allows sustainable development of the Region.