IMPACTS SOCIOECONOMIQUES DE L’ACCAPAREMENT DES TERRES DANS LE DEPARTEMENT DE GAYA AU NIGER

Abstract

This study analyzes the socioeconomic impacts of land grabbing in the department of Gaya, Niger. Data collection combined quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative approach involved surveying 326 heads of agricultural households using a questionnaire. The qualitative approach involved conducting 19 semi-structured interviews and six focus groups using interview guides. Data processing and analysis were performed using XLSTAT, Excel, F4, and ArcGIS 10.1 software. The results reveal that land grabbing mainly affects agriculture, particularly through the reduction of available arable land, especially for smallholders, according to 84.11% of the producers surveyed. With regard to livestock farming, land grabbing has led to the disappearance of certain grazing areas and several passageways, according to 50% and 31.8% of the livestock farmers surveyed, respectively. For fishing, the impacts are reflected in the reduction of fishing areas due to the privatization of riverbanks and the development of irrigated areas along the Niger River. This situation limits fishermen's access to traditionally exploited areas and increases the silting up of water bodies used for fishing. Furthermore, the results show that 80.4% of respondents believe that land grabbing contributes directly to food insecurity. The data also indicate that this phenomenon has intensified land conflicts, mainly involving livestock farmers (55.1%) and transhumant herders (29.7%). This situation can be explained by the mobility of livestock and the increasing pressure on natural resources. In view of these multiple impacts, it appears essential to implement integrated and coherent responses, combining land reform, sustainable management of natural resources, social inclusion, and institutional strengthening.