scholarly journals Determinants of Pastoral Communities for Adoption of Forage Production Technology in Yabello Rangeland, Southern Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
Yeneayehu Fenetahun
Keyword(s):  
Production Technology ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Pastoral Communities

scholarly journals Do Woody Tree Thinning and Season Have Effect on Grass Species’ Composition and Biomass in a Semi-Arid Savanna? The Case of a Semi-Arid Savanna, Southern Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malicha Loje Hare ◽  
Xin Wen Xu ◽  
Yong Dong Wang ◽  
You Yuan ◽  
Abule Ebro Gedda
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Control Plot ◽  
Tree Density ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Multivariate Technique ◽  
Semi Arid

Encroachment of woody plants has negative effects on grass species and seriously challenging livestock production and pastoral livelihood in semi-arid savanna. The effect of thinning and season on grass species composition and biomass was investigated in lowland grazing area for three seasons. The study consisted of 15 plots (each 50 m × 50 m), thinned to differing intensities. The plots were located next to each other on a homogeneous area of 3.8 ha. Five thinning intensities (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) were allocated randomly to the plots and replicated three times. The 0% plot was left unthinned referred to as the control plot. The remaining plots were thinned to the equivalents of 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the tree density of that of the control plot. A two-way analysis of variance and Tukey Honest Significant Differences tests were used to compare responses of grass species. Ordination of variables was carried out by multivariate technique using correspondence analysis to explore the similarity relationship of plots, seasons and species. The differences in species composition and biomass in the control and the thinned plots were significant (p < 0.05). Higher grass species composition and biomass were documented in thinned plots than in the control plot. Species abundance in thinned plots ranged from 11 to 12, while that of the 0% plot was six species. Grass biomass (Kg ha-1) varied from 2,688.4 ± 736.8 to 5,035.8 ± 743.9 across thinned plots, whereas in the control plot the yield was 885.8 ± 369.1. The result showed that grass species composition and biomass increased with the increasing intensity of thinning. Grass values appeared to be optimum at the heavy intensity of thinning woody plants. Seasons were also significant with the highest values recorded in the rainy season. Rainfall played an important role by interacting with thinning and influenced total grass values. Overall, thinning that combined improved soil moisture negatively influenced woody cover and enhanced grass species composition and biomass production. Thinning of bushes to the 75% of tree density would sustain the original savanna and maximize forage production for grazers.

Pastoralist adaptation practices under non-governmental development interventions in Southern Ethiopia

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuan Liao ◽  
Ding Fei
Keyword(s):  
Market Access ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Environmental Risks ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Rangeland Degradation ◽  
Development Interventions ◽  
Indigenous Institutions ◽  
Pastoral Communities ◽  
Ngo Development ◽  
Adaptation Practices

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been playing important roles in facilitating pastoralist adaptation; however, focussed studies have yet to examine whether and how NGO interventions generate viable opportunities for adaptation and development in pastoral communities. This paper analyses how Boran pastoralists cope with various socio-environmental risks under NGO interventions in southern Ethiopia. We find that pastoralist adaptation practices under NGO development interventions enhanced diversification, communal pooling, storage, and market access, but compromised mobility. Changes in pastoralists’ pursuit of livelihoods facilitated alternative adaptation, but such changes risked exacerbating rangeland degradation, reinforcing dependence on external aid, and weakening indigenous institutions. We thus conclude by arguing for more conscious interventions that can mitigate risks without negatively influencing the wellbeing of human subjects and ecosystems.

Reproductive performance and herd growth potentials of cattle in the Borana pastoral system, southern Ethiopia

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hussein T. Wario ◽  
Hassan G. Roba ◽  
Mareike Aufderheide ◽  
Brigitte Kaufmann
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Environmental Variability ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Pastoral System ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Pastoral Mobility ◽  
Pastoral Communities

The pastoral communities in the Borana rangelands of southern Ethiopia mainly rely on cattle (Bos indicus) for their livelihoods. The reproductive performance of cattle is affected by environmental variability and mobility practices that affect fodder availability. This study was conducted to investigate the reproductive performances and herd growth potentials of cattle reared in three ecologically varied zones of Golbo, Malbe and Dirre in the Borana rangelands with different levels of mobility constraints. Using the progeny history technique we gathered life histories of 95, 44, and 138 breeding females and their 411, 203, and 448 calves from the pastoral zones of Golbo, Malbe and Dirre, respectively. The average number of breeding females per household showed a declining trend over the past 10 years. The age at first calving was 53 ± 1 (mean ± s.e.), 52 ± 2 and 56 ± 1 months for the cows from Golbo, Malbe and Dirre, respectively. The mean calving interval was 18. ± 0 for Golbo, 17 ± 0 for Malbe and 19 ± 0 for Dirre. The average number of calves per cow was 3.8 ± 0.1 and was highest in Golbo. Dirre had the lowest calving rate and higher calf mortality than Malbe and Golbo. A simulation of herd growth showed that in Golbo and Malbe the average number of females were 100% higher after 20 years than in Dirre. It is concluded that reduced pastoral mobility that affected resource access across ecological zones can compromise the reproductive performance and hence the growth potential of cattle populations. These findings underscore the importance of policy frameworks such as those by the African Union that call for upholding of pastoral land rights and enabling of mobility practices.

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