A Socio-economic Approach to Agricultural Drying Activities in the Ghardaïa Region of the Sahara

This study aims to analyse the socio-economic profile of agri-food producers and dryers in the Ghardaïa region of the Sahara, where agriculture is a fundamental pillar of rural livelihoods. Although agricultural drying is a relatively modest source of income and employment, it plays a significant role for smallholders and marginalised farmers, particularly among the most economically disadvantaged in the population. A stratified random sampling method was adopted to select producer-dryers from different areas of the region. Primary data were collected using structured interviews and pre-tested questionnaires administered during individual interviews. A total of 240 producer-dryers were surveyed in the study area. Statistical analysis of the data reveals that the majority of producer-dryers are women (76.7%), elderly (52.5%) and illiterate (63.4%). Around 64.1% have a farm of less than two hectares, and 61.6% are considered small farmers, cultivating less than one acre of farmland. Most respondents are engaged in subsistence farming, a field in which many have over 15 years' experience.

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