Ko Farah

The Somali and the Camel: Ecology, Management and Economics

Abstract Camel production is a major source of livelihood for the pastoralists in the drier parts of Kenya. The majority of these camels are raised under traditional management systems that are not well understood by both researchers and policy makers. This paper looks at the ecological, management and socio-economic aspects of camel production among the Somali community of Moyale District, northern Kenya. Besides a thorough literature search, a survey was conducted to collect data on these aspects. The results show that the Somali pastoralists have evolved rational strategies for adapting to the prevailing production conditions of fluctuating forage amounts, and inadequate water and mineral salts. Some of the strategies include herd splitting, watering intervals and salt supplementation. Several aspects of the production system indicate the patoralists’ inability to relate their management practices to certain phenomena. A few of these are restriction of initial colostrum milk supply to calves and calf mortality, irregular supply of mineral salts, and breeding practices that tend to cause inbreeding. Inadequate veterinary services due to lack of access to drugs and veterinarians constitute major constraints to camel production. The results indicate the need to educate the pastoralists on management practices that would improve camel productivity, as there is potential for improvement using simple techniques.

Indigenous Knowledge: The Basis of The Maasai Ethnoveterinary Diagnostic Skills

Abstract The Maasai indigenous knowledge of animal diseases is comparable to the conventional knowledge of the modern veterinarian. Their diagnostic skills of livestock diseases is based on indigenous symptoms of diseases, vectors of diseases, season effects and species affected. The pastoralist diagnostic skills appear to be superior to those of agropastoralists. With the advent of modern veterinary medicine, the Maasai ethnoveterinary practice appears to be on the decline. This paper focuses on indigenous knowledge basis for diagnosis, treatment and control of selected examples of livestock diseases. In addition, the impact of modern veterinary medicine on pastoral (Maasai) ethnoveterinary practice will be briefly discussed.

Effects of clipping and sheep grazing on dyers woad

Dyers woad (Is&& tktoria L.) is an iatroduced crudferous forb that in rapidly expanding on intermountain rangelands and is apparently reducing production and regeneration of more desirable forage plants. Mechanical end chemical controls are expensive as well as having deleterious effects on nontarget species. Limitations to controlling thie noxious weed by early spring graahag were investigated with clipping experiments at 1 site in the Wasatcb foothills of northern Utah. These results were compared with actual utilization of woad by sheep at a poor condition example of that site. Significant mortality 8nd reduction in reproductive performance occurred when at least 60% of the aboveground phytomass had been removed on or after 23 May. Clipping twice, to remove as much as 90% of aboveground tissue before 23 May, did not significantly affect word mortality, percent flowering, or fruit production. Sheep did not graze tti weed heavily enough at late enough dates to significantly affect mortality or seed production. Even on a poor condition range, these animals switched to other forages after about 15 May. Stocking rates rquired to restrict dyers word at our clipping site would likely result in further range deterioration. More hostspecific biological control agents should be examined.

The Socio-economic and Ecological Impacts of Small-scale Irrigation Schemes on Pastoralists and Drylands in Northern Kenya

Abstract Northern Kenya, as in other sub-Saharan arid and semi-arid regions, has faced challenges related to the prevailing socio-economy, ecology and polity in the last quarter of last century. In some of these areas, pastoralists have been settled on the peri-urban fringes of towns and have been exposed to flood-retreat cultivation; a culture that has been traditionally practised by the riverine Bantu communities. From the late 1960s these pastoralists started irrigation agriculture with assistance from the government and nongovernmental organisations. The outcome has been the mushrooming of irrigation schemes along rivers. This paper looks at the development of small-scale irrigation schemes and their sustainability. It also analyses their socio-economic and ecological effects on pastoral households and the drylands, taking Garissa District as a case. Interviews, a questionnaire and existing literature on irrigation schemes were used to collect data. Logistic regressions were carried out to assess the socio-economic effects of irrigation on the pastoral households. The results show that irrigation farming plays a supplementary role in pastoral economies, takes away child labour from pastoralism and reduces pastoral mobility. The implication is that irrigation farming in arid areas does not seem to offer a long-term sustainable economic livelihood.

Changing land use systems and socio-economic roles of vegetation in semi-arid Africa The case of the Afar and Tigrai of Ethiopia

Abstract In recent years, increased populations and the accompanying human demands have led to changes in land-use in the drylands of sub-Saharan Africa, in turn resulting in the reduction of vegetation and other natural resources. These changes have had a negative impact on natural resources and how these resources are being exploited. The affected uses include those related to livestock production, farm and off-farm linkages, ethnoveterinary and human medicines and marketing. This study used socio-economic surveys to obtain information on these changes and how especially, they may be influencing the use of vegetation by the local communities - the Afar and Tigrai - in north-eastern Ethiopia. The study revealed that large proportions of the plains are severely denuded due to the introduction of flood recession cultivation (in the early 1960s) with the aim of improving people’s livelihoods. The findings further show that woody vegetation provides a range of products for direct use by the local communities. The results suggest that efforts should be made to protect and reproduce important vegetation species by integrating indigenous technical knowledge with modern technology.

Land Use and Spatial Distribution of Two Gum And Incense Producing Tree Species In The Blue-nile Valley of Wogidi District, Ethiopia

Abstract The study was conducted in the Blue-Nile valley of Wogidi district in Ethiopia, where woody vegetation degradation associated with intensive land use activities has become a national concern. It was undertaken with an overall objective of documenting the impacts of land use and topography on the spatial distribution of two gum and incense producing tree species, Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst and Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) Engl. Five land use units, each with two slope categories (⩽ 25% and > 25%) were subjected to a 5x2 factorial arrangement and a total of 50 sample points were employed to measure density, crown cover, and age ratio of trees. Analysis of vegetation attributes revealed that, except for density of C. africana, all the vegetation attributes did show lower status in the heavily populated land use units than the control site reflecting the differential impact of intensive land use pressure against protection. In the heavily populated land use unit (Luu-3) for example, density, cover and age ratio of B. papyrifera trees were as low as 8.3 trees/ha, 7.7% and 0.21 respectively. In contrast to this, i.e. in the site of low population pressure (the control) the same attributes appeared to be measured as 77 trees/ha, 7.7% and 0.51 respectively. However, attached to the proximity ecological position, density and crown cover of B. papyrifera showed no significant difference (P. > 0.05) between Luu-1 and Luu-2. Density of C. africana, most likely due to its affinity to a specific microhabitat, it did not differ among all land use units (P > 0.05). Between the slope aspects of the area, B. papyrifera and C. africana were found to dominate the steep (>25%) and gentle (⩽ 25%) slopes respectively. Regarding density of B. papyrifera, while it was 196 trees/ha in the steep slope, 146 trees/ha were documented from the lower slope aspect. Inversely related to this, C. africana had 68 and 102 trees/ha on >25% and ⩽25% slopes respectively. Age ratio analysis of B. papyrifera trees, however, did not show significant difference (P > 0.05) between these two slope categories. In the study area therefore, land use and slope were identified as determinant factors to the spatial distribution of woody vegetation and policy frameworks to account these factors are suggested to be substantial in the management of such resources.

The nutritional value of Zizyphus spina-christi for goat production among the pastoralists of Kalu district, South Wello, Ethiopia

Fifteen yearling goats of similar weight were used to evaluate the potential of Zizyphus spina-christi leaves as a supplement to goats fed on Cynodon dactylon grass. Animals were randomly assigned to five feeding regimes and individually stall-fed for a preliminary period of 14 days, followed by 14 days of feeding to determine dry matter intake and digestibility and a 3-month feeding period to determine body weight changes. The treatments were formulated based on leaf:grass ratios of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. Z. spina-christi leaves had higher crude protein and lower fibre content than C. dactylon grass (P < 0.05). Dry matter intake, digestibility and body weight changes increased significantly (P < 0.05) as the level of supplementation increased. Thus, Z. spina-christi foliage is a potential feed supplement in the dry season, as the dry season grasses are deficient in the required nutrients and cannot meet goat requirements.