The use of a critical analysis of a multicriterion method (IDEA) for assessing the sustainability of sedentary sheep rearing systems in the Algerian steppe areas

This paper refers to a study conducted in the province of Djelfa on 50 sedentary sheep farms whose objective is the assessment of sustainability using the Indicateurs de la Durabilite des Exploitations Agricoles (IDEA) method (Farm sustainability indicators). It shows that production systems have undergone a mutation from the pastoral to agro-pastoral. This is manifested by the introduction of plant speculation and animal species especially the cattle which promoted the diversity of production where the agro-ecological sustainability that has the best performance with an average value of 56.3% of theoretical maximum. For cons, the socio-territorial level is one that has received the worst score (35.84% of theoretical maximum) which is due to the collapse of collectivism in steppe society which impacts negatively on the management of resources. The economic dimension has reached a value of 52.86% of the theoretical maximum despite the loss capital of livestock (attrition) as agro-pastoralists have introduced agriculture and also engage in activities outside agriculture and livestock to improve their income. The total sustainability is limited by the agroecological scale for 15 farms, 42 farms across the socio-territorial and 20 farms by the economic ladder.