Evolution des Modes de Gestion des Ressources en Eau dans la Vallee du Logone : Entre Pratiques Locales et Structuration Institutionnelle

Water resource management in the Logone Valley represents a fundamental challenge for the socio-economic and environmental development of the region. Historically based on traditional and customary practices, it has gradually evolved into a more institutionalized approach due to multiple factors: demographic growth (+30‰ per decade between 2000 and 2025), agricultural intensification, and climatic fluctuations. These transformations have led to increasing pressure on water resources, particularly for rice irrigation, where 70% of farms cover less than 5 hectares, requiring optimized water management. Moreover, water withdrawals are high, with 41% of users consuming an average of 615 m³ over 150 days. In response to these challenges, this study adopts a mixed-method approach, combining field surveys, semi-structured interviews, and direct observations to analyze the evolution of governance frameworks and identify the challenges related to the implementation of integrated and sustainable water resource management