Agricultural intensification and flexibility in the Nigerian Sahel

This paper discusses evidence of agricultural intensification in the Sahclian zone of north-east Nigeria, drawing on data from a five-year monitoring study of soils, cultivars and livelihoods across environmental and demographic gradients. The paper stresses the importance of flexibility in ecological management and in economic activities as components of rural livelihood strategies, In the villages studied, the intensity of agricultural operations decreases with annual rainfall amount. However, flexibility in options within both cropping systems and off-farm employment, is greatest in the drier villages. The nature of this flexibility and its relevance to debates about intensification are discussed.