AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL POLICIES : ASSESSMENT OF HALF CENTURY'S EXPERIENCE

Abstract

In the aftermath of independence, the main objectives of agricultural and rural policies were feed the population, create jobs to absorb surplus labor until industry took over, and improve living in rural areas. Later was added the aim of sustainability of agriculture and rural development. Half a century later, we find that the food of the population has, on average, improved, but at the cost of an increasing dependence vis-à-vis other countries. The agricultural labor force increasers and contributes to the reduction of unemployment in rural areas. Sure, the standard of living of rural has been improved. But the sustainable use of natural resources has no progress. Desertification continues at a high level. Deforestation continues. Irrigation water remains largely wasted. The explanation of these changes is due to a modest growth in agricultural production (mainly to the persistence of low yields, high rates of follow and low investment), the strong growth in the number of mouths of feed and revenues growth enabled by a relatively large redistribution of oil revenues. It is also highlighted the failure of global governance of the country as well as that of agricultural and rural sector.