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million ha in 1985* The overexploitation of the vegetative cover caused by human and animal population pressure haa led to a decline in eoil fertility and soli degradation. Conseąuently, tradltlonal farming systems, based on long falIow period8 to regenerate soil fertility, are breaking down. Th i 8 degradation of the environment ha8 been further compounded by repeated drought8. Per capita agricultural GNP declined by 2.52 per year in the past 20 year8.

1.08    Cereals production, consisting of millet, sorghum, rice and maize, increased at an annual averaga rata of 1.61 in the past 20 years to 1.6 million tons (1981-85 average). This increase was madę possible solely by an increase in cultivated area. Cereals production has been dominated by millet and sorghum with the contribution of millet increasing slightly from 742 in 1960/65 to 772 in 1981/85.

1.09    Total leguminou8 production (groundnuts and cowpeas) has been increasing but at a much slower pace (0.6Z) to about 280,000 tons (1981-85 average). The relative importance of groundnuts and cowpeas has changed drastically sińce the 1973/74 drought. Cowpeas replaced groundnuts in a remarkably short period of time without Government interyention. Groundnut production surpassed 400,000 tons in 1972, whereas cowpea production amounted to only 144,000 tons. In 1976, a few years after the drought, the relative importance was reversed (164,000 tons of groundnuts versus 216,000 out of cowpeas), and cowpeas remained the morę important crop throughout the eightie8. This switch illustrates the dynamism of Nigerien farmers who appropriately responded to the changing economic and climatic environment.

1.10    While yields have been declining for millet, sorghum and groundnuts, they have been stagnant for cowpeas and maize. Yields for cotton and rice have improyed mainly due to the introduction of modem irrigation schemes. The relative productivity of Nigerien agriculture is declining, ezcept for rice and cotton. Yields (during the period 1980-1985) for millet-sorghum and groundnuts in Niger have been about half those of other West African countries.

1.11    Liyestor' production is one of the single most important activities in the economy, and crop and livestock production are greatly dependent on one another. The livestock subsector is estimated to contribute about 30Z of the agricultural GDP and around 15Z of all ezports in 1986. The national herd was estimated in 1983 at 3.5 million head of cattle, nearly 3.4 million sheep and 7.5 million goats. Drastic drops in the size of the national herd were recorded in 1985 when severe drought occurred. Production loss due to drought is considerable sińce it takes about seven to ten years for a herd to reconstitute itself to its previous level. The significant change in the composition of herds sińce 1968, has been in favor of a higher proportion of smali ruminant8 and camels, induced by different mortality rates under drought conditions and by the deliberate choices madę by certain livestock owners. Production Systems are mostly agro-pastoral and nomadic and are characterized by poor husbandry practices, year-round Iow nutritional levels and deteriorating grazing resources.

1.12    Average annual production of wood is estimated at 4.2 million m3, of which only 1.4 million m3 is available for consumption. Annual consumption of wood is increasing at 4.2Z, faster than population growth rates. It is