Scientific research in arid areas

For a long time, agronomic research has been focused on basic and technical subjects, in view of a linear transfer to the farming world. The model was based on results obtained in station that were communicated to farmers via agents of extension services. This model failed for various reasons that may be attributed to investigators as well as to the State apparatus in charge of extension services. In the meantime, there was little and isolated social and anthropogenic research, of which authorities were often suspicious.

Only the occurrence of the big droughts of the 70’s in the Sahel induced at last research to take into account ancient traditional know-how and adaptive modes perfected by local societies. Agronomic research began to ‘go out’ of stations. Investigators in social science evidenced complex local situations. New (integrated, participatory…) approaches were then developed. Thanks to scientists’ influence, donors realised the negative impacts of top-down approaches. This movement happened while the civil society was organising.

Today, social science and environmental research are defined taking into account the opinion of local stakeholders. States are not the only decision-makers any longer. Scientific issues do not rely on purely scientific logics: new questions are put to research.
Contribution of science to the decision- making of the actors involved in combating desertification Science can provide useful knowledge to help farmers and breeders as well as political decision-makers (such as a Minister of Agriculture and the Environment in a country subject to desertification) in making their decisions. Indeed:

A farmer’s decision-making depends on parameters that characterise the natural environment in which he cultivates as well as others that belong to cultural and social references. His technical know-how and economic environment also count in this decision-making process.
Ministers’ responsibilities require scientific information so as to: (i) meet their country’s needs for food, (ii) prevent and combat pests, (iii) assess the status of desertification and report it to the Convention every two years, (iv) define public policies regarding farming and support to actors of the civil society. They need to have charts and indicators to monitor the situation, in order to make the right decisions in Cabinet meetings. Biophysical and socio-economic information are necessary to make decisions.

Nevertheless, whoever the end user of the knowledge produced by the scientific community, an efficient communication is indispensable to make such information understandable and within the reach of everyone.

Several conditions are then required:

The end user should be trained, hence the importance of school and basic training for local populations and the training of executives of the organisations involved in the combat against desertification.
The scientific message should be understandable and timely, hence the need for mediators able to interpret, transcribe and circulate such information.
There should be organisations (either public or private) devoted to technology transfer.