Table 1 Comparison of demographic and agro-ecological characteristics of rainfed and irrigated zones of Sidi Kacem [18]
Characteristic | Rainfed (%) | Irrigated (%) | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|
Number of communes | 12 (41.4) | 17 (58.6) | 29 |
Number of douars (villages) | 349 (45.7) | 415 (54.3) | 764 |
Number of inhabitants | 159,202 (32.4) | 332,395 (67.6) | 491,597 |
Number of cattle keepers | 8,866 (65.3) | 4,707 (34.7) | 13,573 |
Number of small ruminant keepers | 5,662 (50.0) | 5,655 (50.0) | 11,317 |
Cattle population (estimate) | 48,000 (40.1) | 71,840 (59.9) | 119,840 |
Sheep population (estimate) | 167,130 (44.1) | 212,100 (55.9) | 379,230 |
Goat population (estimate) | 11,360 (54.7) | 9,410 (45.3) | 20,770 |
Dominant livestock production system | Extensive | Intensive | NA |
Average cattle herd size | 5 | 15 | 9 |
Average small ruminant flock size | 32 | 39 | 35 |
Altitude (metres) | 150-500 | 50-150 | NA |
Topology | Hills and hillocks | Flat open country | NA |