This paper reviews the impact of drought on pastoral societies in their livelihood system. Livestock mortalities and morbidity, human morbidity, conflicts, food insecurity, reduction of livestock prices, and increase in food prices were among the socioeconomic impacts of drought experienced. Drought have also a great impact in pastoral society’s in terms of decreasing livestock trade and marketing, increasing conflict and insecurity, decrease the education and increase destitution among the societies. Drought is a major cause of poverty in pastoral communities.
Pastoralists experience decline in levels of productivity from their herds following losses in livestock capital from deaths, low calving rates, low milk production and weight loss, which consequently reduce the market value of livestock through drought. It is therefore a fact that drought results in destruction and collapse of pastoralists livelihoods, dependence on food aid and long-term destitution. Furthermore, reduction of pastoralists’ purchasing power is one of the important economic effects of recurrent droughts. To cater for their nutritional and energy needs, pastoral communities purchase cereals and other foods with the proceeds from sales of livestock and livestock products.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1 Background
1.2 Objective
2. Literature review
2.1 Concept and definition of drought
Meteorological droughts
Agricultural droughts;
Hydrological droughts
Socio‐economic droughts;
2.2 Concept of pastoralism
Ranching/enclosed livestock production
2.3 Livelihood system of pastoral society
2.4 Impact of drought on pastoral societies
Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This senior seminar investigates the multifaceted impacts of drought on pastoral societies, focusing on how reduced forage production and water scarcity destabilize their livelihood systems and economic foundations. The study explores the vulnerability of these communities to natural and man-made environmental shifts, analyzing the resulting socioeconomic consequences, such as increased poverty, conflict, and the degradation of essential assets like livestock.
- The socioeconomic consequences of drought for pastoralist communities.
- The link between drought and the disruption of livestock trade and market access.
- Educational challenges and school enrollment declines caused by drought-induced migration.
- The relationship between drought, resource scarcity, and the escalation of communal conflicts.
- The transition from pastoralism to destitution and dependence on food aid.
Excerpt from the Book
2.4.3 Impacts in Ethiopia
The pastoral areas in Ethiopia are characterized by frequent droughts with high animal mortality followed by famine and high death rates in the human population. For example, in Borena, the 1984-85 drought depressed livestock growth by driving calf mortality rate as high as 90% (Coussins and Upton 1988b as cited in Helland 2000; Fasil et al.,2001, 11). According to some studies on pastoralism in Ethiopia, drought has increasingly become the majordeterring factor of pastoral production. When a drought occurs it substantially increases livestock mortality; reduces livestock prices and raises the price of food grain, a situation that aggravates the problem of pastoralists by shifting the terms of trade in favor of their purchases than their sales (Futterknecht 1997).
In a recent review of the pastoral areas of Ethiopia, Sandford and Yohannes (2000) mentioned, among others, the following drought events: The 1973/74 drought that affected the pastoral areas in general and the Afar in particular. This drought led to a 72% decrease in cattle population, a 45% and 34% decrease of sheep and goats, respectively, and a 37% decrease in camels; The 1983/85 that led to a 60% decrease (mortality, slaughter, sales) in cattle numbers in the worst affected parts of Borena; The 1995-97 drought that led to “a 78% decrease in cattle herd size and a 45% decrease in camel herd size among sampled households in the Somali and Borena areas of Ethiopia” and the 2000 drought that led to “an acute scarcity of livestock feed in most parts of the pastoral areas, particularly in Somali Region, Bale and Borena zones in Oromiya Region, and in SNNPR”.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the contextual background regarding the high vulnerability of pastoral societies in Africa and Ethiopia to drought, highlighting the lack of mitigation capacity.
1 Background: Examines the systemic impact of drought on pastoralists, noting how it results in the loss of essential assets and increases their vulnerability to food shortages and poverty.
1.2 Objective: Defines the specific goals of the seminar, which include reviewing socioeconomic, educational, and market-related impacts of drought on pastoral groups.
2. Literature review: Offers a comprehensive overview of the definitions and classifications of drought, alongside a conceptual analysis of pastoralist livelihood systems.
2.1 Concept and definition of drought: Categorizes drought into meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socio-economic types, emphasizing that drought is a temporary aberration distinct from permanent aridity.
2.2 Concept of pastoralism: Explores the definition and mobility-based categorization of pastoralist groups, including nomadism, transhumance, and agro-pastoralism.
2.3 Livelihood system of pastoral society: Discusses the central role of livestock as the primary asset for pastoralists and its significant contribution to the GDP of East African nations.
2.4 Impact of drought on pastoral societies: Analyzes how drought drives the privatization of rangelands, triggers conflict over dwindling resources, and undermines traditional land management systems.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the finding that while drought affects the entire world, its impacts are disproportionately severe in Africa, leading to structural destitution and the collapse of pastoralist lifestyles.
Keywords
Drought, Pastoralism, Livestock, Livelihood, Ethiopia, Socioeconomic Impact, Food Insecurity, Rangelands, Resource Conflict, Destitution, Climate Change, Migration, Herd Management, Poverty, Water Scarcity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this senior seminar?
The seminar examines the impact of drought on pastoral societies, focusing on how these events disrupt livelihood systems, deplete assets, and increase the vulnerability of communities in Africa and specifically Ethiopia.
What are the main thematic fields covered in this work?
The work covers the definitions of various types of drought, the concepts of pastoralism, the economic importance of livestock to pastoral societies, and the wide-ranging negative consequences of environmental shocks on these populations.
What is the core research objective of this study?
The general objective is to provide a comprehensive review of the impacts of drought on pastoral societies, broken down into socioeconomic, educational, market-based, and direct survival impacts.
Which scientific methodology is applied in this paper?
The paper utilizes a systematic literature review approach, synthesizing existing academic studies, government reports, and historical data on drought events to assess their impact on pastoral communities.
What topics are addressed in the main part of the work?
The main sections discuss the classification of droughts, the dynamics of pastoralist livelihoods, and how specific environmental stressors like water and forage reduction lead to livestock loss, market price volatility, and long-term destitution.
Which keywords characterize this publication?
Key concepts include pastoralism, drought-induced poverty, livestock market dynamics, resource competition, and climate vulnerability.
How does drought specifically affect pastoral children's education?
The research notes that drought forces families to migrate in search of water and pasture; consequently, children are withdrawn from school to support their families or to help in search of food and resources, which severely hampers their education.
What historical examples of drought impact are provided for Ethiopia?
The text details several major drought events, such as those in 1973/74, 1983/85, and 1995-97, which resulted in massive reductions in cattle, sheep, and camel herd sizes, leading to famine and extreme economic hardship in regions like Borena and the Somali region.
- Quote paper
- Bereket Assaye (Author), 2017, Drought. Its impacts on pastoral societies, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/592923
