Programme de bourses "Echanges Universitaires"
Land tenure dynamic and evolution of the gender relations in the rural zone of Aguié (region of Maradi, Southern Niger)
The rural society of Aguié, like that of the whole region of Maradi, in south Niger, is essentially based on agriculture. Since the 1960s, their living is confronted to increasing and major constraints, namely the declining land productivity and land scarcity.
The high population growth rate of 3% since the 1970s has lead to the saturation of farm lands and the overexploitation of natural resources including lands. Not only has land productivity decreased, but also lands are scare compared to the needs of the population. The food security was assured by the agricultural production but it is becoming uncertain for most of the households.
In this context of land scarcity and increased competition, women who have already precarious land ownerships, are the evident victims.
In fact, despite the improvement and land access rules granting women the right to land ownership once denied by customary laws, they continue to be deprived of access to land possession because of the socio cultural perception of gender. In addition, poverty is a serious obstacle preventing most of them from accessing this resource.
On the other hand, because of the permanent food deficit and bad living conditions, the social norms have evolved from the full support of all the needs of the household by men to the sharing of responsibility between men and women. In many case, the men have gone to the main cities seeking for additional incomes, and women are the main household suppliers. Therefore, women are investing in new activities providing them with news income. This enables them not only to assume their new responsibility but also to be economically autonomous.
This evolution in the gender divide of work has enabled women to acquire a better implication in decision making at family and community levels. Nevertheless, the balance of power is still in favour of men, and there is still and obvious inequality with the responsibility assumed by women and their conceded social status.
Contacts :
|
Douma Sadi |
Yamba Boubacar Faculté des lettres et sciences humaines Université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey B.P. 418, Niamey-Niger . depgéo@intnet.ne |