World’s Soil Resources

Poverty within this system is extensive, as markets are often distant, infrastructure is poorly developed
and the degradation of natural resources is a serious problem. In the lowlands where rainfed production is
feasible, an increasing area is now benefiting from the availability of new drilling and pumping technologies,
which have made it possible to use supplementary winter irrigation on wheat and full irrigation on summer
cash crops. There is some dry season grazing of sheep migrating from the steppe areas.
The more humid areas (with 600 to 1000 mm annual rainfall) that occur in the Caspian and Mediterranean
coastal areas are characterised by tree crops (olives and fruit), melons and grapes. There is also some protected
cropping with supplementary irrigation for potatoes, vegetables and flowers. Common crops are wheat,
barley, chickpeas, lentils and fodder crops. Poverty in these more humid areas is moderate, but would be
higher without extensive off-farm income from seasonal labour migration.
Figure 13.1 Land use systems in the Near East and North Africa. Source: FAO, 2010.
Livestock-based land use systems in sparsely vegetated areasù
The pastoral land use system, mainly involving sheep and goats but also with some cattle and camels, is
practiced on large areas of semiarid steppe lands, and is characterised by low population densities, with more
densely populated areas around irrigated settlements. There are irrigated croplands scattered throughout the
system, thus boosting the agricultural population – and helping to support a cattle population. Strong linkages
exist to other farming systems through the movement of stock, both through seasonal grazing of herds in
more humid areas and through the sale of animals to large feedlots located around urban areas. Seasonal
migration, which is particularly important as a risk minimisation measure, depends on the availability of
grass, water and crop residues in neighbouring arable systems. Nowadays, pastoral herds are often partially
controlled and financed by urban capital. Where water is available, small areas of crop production have been
developed to supplement the diets and income of pastoral families. However, such sites are few and poverty
within the system is extensive.
The sparse (arid) land use system covers more than 60 percent of the region and includes vast desert zones.
People are concentrated in oases and on a number of irrigation schemes (notably in Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco
and Libya). Part of the land is irrigated and utilised for the production of dates, other palms, fodder and
vegetables. Pastoralists within this system also raise camels, sheep and goats. Following scattered storms
and in good seasons, the system provides opportunistic grazing for the herds of pastoralists. The boundary
between pastoral grazing and sparse agriculture systems is indistinct and depends on climatic conditions.
Poverty within this system is generally low as population pressure is limited.
Status of the World’s Soil Resources | Main Report Regional Assessment of Soil Changes
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in the Near East and North Africa