Cattle, Women, and Wells

How do people adapt and survive in the harsh environment of the drought-prone Sahelian region, south of the Sahara desert? This work examines choices facing farmers in this region, and includes a discussion of crop choice, attempts to improve yields, investments in equipment, and the effects of these decisions on family and household organization. 1 Introduction; Part I: The Village Setting; 2 Background to the Village of Kala; 3 Climate, Cultivation, and Household Income; Part II: Farm Production; 4 The Farming System; 5 Millet-production Analysis; 6 Returns to Farming; Part II: Farm Investment; 7 Introduction; 8 Well-digging; 9 Oxen Plough Teams; 10 Investment in Cattle-breeding Stock; 11 Farm-investemnt Strategies; Part IV: Managing the Family; 12 Fertility and Child-rearing; 13 Marriage; 14 Bambara Household Organization; Part V: Conclusions; 15 Conclusions; Appendix: Levelling Mechanisms within Bambara Society