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The semi-arid zones of the world are fragile ecosystems which are
being sub stantially modified by the activities of mankind.
Increasing human populations have resulted in greater demands on
semi-arid zones for providing human susten ance and the possibility
that this may enhance desertification is a grave concern. These
zones are harsh habitats for humans. The famines that resulted from
drought during the late 1960's and the 1970's in the African Sahel
illustrated the unreliability of present agricultural systems in
this zone. Large fluctuations in ag ricultural production have
occurred in semi-arid zones of Australia, North Ameri ca, and the
Soviet Union due to periodic droughts, even though considerable ag
ricultural technology has been devoted to agricultural development
in these zones. The challenge to mankind is to manage these
different semi-arid zones so that pro ductivity is increased and
stabilized, and environmental deterioration is decreased.
Irrigation can be used to increase and stabilize agricultural
production in semi-arid zones as discussed in Volume 5 of this
series, Arid Zone Irrigation. The present volume, Agriculture in
Semi-Arid Environments, focuses on dryland farming in semi-arid
zones, and is relevant to the large areas of the world where
rainfall is limiting and where water is not available for
irrigation. This volume is designed to assist agricultural
development in these areas and consists of reviews and analyses of
available information by scientists working in Africa, Australia,
and at the U ni versity of California."
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