Factors influencing migration and settlement of pastoralists in Nairobi City, Kenya

Pastoralism is globally recognized as the backbone of the economy in the vast arid and semi-arid rangelands. Despite its enormous economic contribution, the system is facing a myriad of challenges, among them, land use and land tenure changes, resulting in diminished grazing land. Accompanying such changes is the conversion of traditional grazing lands into other uses such as settlements, with urbanization being one of the key drivers of pastoral system dynamics. Understanding such dynamics in the face of compounding factors such as frequent droughts linked to climate change is key in guiding policy formulation and interventions aimed at achieving a sustainable pastoral production system. This study investigated factors determining migration and settlement of pastoralists in Nairobi City of Kenya. Data was collected through a snowball sampling approach using semi-structured household questionnaires, focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) in five Sub-counties of Nairobi City County. A total of 144 household interviews, 6 FGDs and 16 KIIs were conducted to elucidate drivers of urban pastoralism, opportunities and challenges encountered by pastoralists in the city. A binary logistic regression model was used to analyse the determinants of their migration. Results show that search for pasture and water resources, and alternative markets especially during droughts, are the main reasons for pastoralists’ migration to the city. In addition, educated herders were found to be more likely to migrate to the city as they pursue wage employment. Whereas these findings revealed that migration to the city exposes pastoralists to diverse livelihood opportunities, they are equally faced by a number of challenges - mainly road accidents involving livestock, frequent land displacements to pave way for development of real estates, and livestock poisoning from sewage and garbage wastes. There is a need for policy and regulatory interventions to recognize pastoralism alongside other forms of urban farming and addressing challenges facing sustainable pastoral production.

Pastoralism and Millet Cultivation During the Bronze Age in the Temperate Steppe Region of Northern China

Eastern and Western Asia were important centers for the domestication of plants and animals and they developed different agricultural practices and systems. The timing, routeway and mechanisms of the exchanges between the two centers have long been important scientific issues. The development of a mixed pastoral system (e.g., with the rearing of sheep, goats and cattle) and millet cultivation in the steppe region of northern China was the result of the link between the two cultures. However, little detailed information is available about the precise timing and mechanisms involved in this mixture of pastoralism and millet cultivation. To try to address the issue, we analyzed the pollen, fungal spores and phytolith contents of soil samples from the Bronze Age Zhukaigou site in the steppe area of North China, which was combined with AMS 14C dating of charcoal, millet and animal bones. A mixed pastoralism and millet agricultural system appeared at the site between 4,000 and 3,700 cal yr BP, and the intensity of animal husbandry increased in the later stage of occupation. Published data indicate that domestic sheep/goats appeared across a wide area of the steppe region of northern China after ∼4,000 cal yr BP. A comparison of records of sheep/goat rearing and paleoclimatic records from monsoon area in China leads us to conclude that the mixture of pastoralism and millet cultivation was promoted by the occurrence of drought events during 4,200–4,000 cal yr BP. Moreover, we suggest that mixed rainfed agriculture and animal husbandry increased the adaptability and resilience of the inhabitants of the region which enabled them to occupy the relatively arid environment of the monsoon marginal area of northern China.

Typologie des exploitations agricoles productrices du mil et niébé pluvial dans la commune rurale de Karma

Principale activité des ruraux nigériens, l’agriculture fait face à des problèmes récurrents de baisse de rendements conduisant à la paupérisation et à l’insécurité alimentaire des ménages qui l’exercent. Cette étude conduite à Karma vise la caractérisation des systèmes de production du mil et de niébé pluvial en vue de connaître leurs fonctionnements et leurs diverses interactions dans un contexte de changement climatique. Pour cela, une enquête a été conduite sur un échantillon de 90 ménages d’exploitants du mil et niébé pluvial. L’étude a montré que les systèmes de production sont regroupés en trois types selon la méthode d’Analyse en Composantes Principales couplée à la classification de Nuées dynamiques. Il s’agit du système de production agricole pure (Type A), du système agroforesterie (Type B) et du système agropastoral (Type C). Le type (A) occupe une superficie moyenne de 1,5 hectares. Il est scindé en système de cultures sèches simple et système de cultures sèches associé au maraîchage. Le type (B) s’effectue sur 2,18 hectares et le type (C) sur une superficie moyenne de 3,25 hectares. Ainsi, le type (C) est plus performant que le type (B) qui l’est plus que le type (A). English title: Typology of farms producing millet and rain-fed cowpeas in the rural commune of Karma Main activity of nigeriens’ rural, agriculture faces recurring problems drop in yields leading to pauperization and food insecurity of the households that exert it. This study conducted in Karma aims to characterize millet and rain-fed cowpea production systems with a view to understanding their functioning and their various interactions to enable producers to better cope with climate change. For this, a survey was conducted on a sample of 90 households farms of millet and rain-fed cowpea. The study showed that production systems are grouped into three types according to the Principal Component Analysis method coupled with classification. of dynamic clouds. These are the pure agricultural production system (Type A), the agroforestry system (Type B) and the agro-pastoral system (Type C). Type (A) occupies an average area of 1.5 hectares. It is split into a simple dry crop system and a dry crop system associated with market gardening. Type (B) takes place on 2.18 hectares and type (C) on an average area of 3.25 hectares. Thus, type (C) is more efficient than type (B) which is better than type (A).

Assessment on pastoral system within oil palm - cattle integrated system to support beef self-sufficiency in North Sumatra

The research was conducted to see the forage production, carry capacity and rotation cycle that was most suitable for grazing cattle in the ecosystem of oil palm plantations. The research was conducted at Tanah Itam Ulu Oil Palm Plantation, Tanah Itam Ulu Village, Lima Puluh District, North Sumatra from January-December 2017. The research used RCBD consisting of 3 x 3 with 3 replications. The first factor is the age of oil palm trees (6, 12 18 years), the second factor is the rotation cycle of forage (40, 50, 60 days). The parameters observed: forage production, cattle capacity, forage nutritional and botanical composition. The research results showed that forage production and carrying capacity had a significantly higher effect (P <0.05) with a harvest interval of 40 days at the location of juvenile oil palm, which was 11,962 kg dry matter /ha/year and carrying capacity was 1.31 AU/ha. Forage quality (protein, NDF and ADF) had no significant effect (P> 0.05). The dominant forage species appeared in almost all observation plots, namely Cyrtococcum and Axonopus. The results of the study concluded that oil palms of 12 years with a harvest rotation of 40 days provided the largest capacity for grazing beef cattle.

Applying conjoint analysis to match farmer's preferences for cattle traits with those conferred by the improved trypanotolerant Orma Boran cattle in coastal Kenya

Bovine trypanosomiasis is a key constraint to increased livestock production across all production systems of Kwale County in coastal Kenya. Genetically controlled trypanotolerance of cattle is regarded as one of the promising methods available to mitigate the impact of this disease, and the improved trypanonotolerant Orma Boran is one of the breeds available in Kenya for this purpose. Conjoint analysis was thus used to match farmer’s preference for cattle traits against those conferred by this breed in three production systems of Kwale County. The study also estimated the transaction costs (TC) that would influence access to breeding services while availing the breed. The aim was to identify production systems where the breed matches well with farmer preferences, as an initial step towards its dissemination. In order of importance, farmers preferred cattle that were resistant to trypanosomiasis, had large body size, exhibited resistance to tick-borne diseases (TBD), and had high milk output. However, there were inter-production system differences in trait preferences, where resistance to TBD was least valued in the agro-pastoral system, with more emphasis put on the size of animal and trypanotolerance respectively. On the other hand, in medium potential and marginal pastoral systems, more emphasis was placed on TBD resistance, followed by trypanosomiasis resistance. The agro-pastoral production system was therefore delineated as a potential area for disseminating the breed. Regarding transaction costs, the price of service was the most important transaction costs element. Furthermore, whereas bull service was preferred over artificial insemination (AI) services in marginal pastoral and medium potential systems, AI was given preference in an agro-pastoral system. It was thus concluded that the Orma Boran dissemination would be successful among agro-pastoral households system, and should be delivered using subsidized AI services.

Effects of dietary and health factors on nutritional status of children in pastoral settings in Borana, southern Ethiopia, August–October 2015

Background Childhood undernourishment is a major public health problem globally, and being responsible for higher mortalities in children and enormous health costs in sub-Saharan Africa. However, scarcity of data on the magnitude of malnutrition and its underlying causes, especially in the pastoral system, limits the effectiveness of potential interventions. This study addresses the nutritional status and factors associated with malnutrition among children in Borana pastoral system, southern Ethiopia. Methods A community based cross-sectional study, using multistage cluster sampling, was conducted from August to October 2015. Dietary diversity score (DDS), milk and meal frequencies, anthropometric measurements, and socio-economic variables were recorded for 538 children aged 6–59 months. Multivariable generalized linear model (GLM) with log link function was applied to ascertain determinants of malnutrition. The strength of association was assessed based on prevalence ratio (PR). Results Prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting were 28.3 % (95 % CI: 24.4–32.1), 41.1 % (95 % CI: 36.7–45.1), and 9.8 % (95 % CI: 7.3, 12.4), respectively. Children who consumed more diverse foods were at a lower risk of being underweight (PR = 0.72, 95 % CL: 0.59–0.88), stunted (PR = 0.80, 95 % CL: 0.68–0.93) and wasted (PR = 0.42, 95 % CL: 0.27–0.66). Intake of increased milk frequency was also associated with lower risk of underweight (PR = 0.86, 95 %CL: 0.76–0.97), stunting (PR = 0.83, 95 %CL: 0.75–0.91) and wasting (PR = 0.73, 95 %CL: 0.56–0.96). The risk of underweight (PR = 1.02, 95 %CL: 1.01–1.03), stunting (PR = 1.01, 95 %CL: 1.00–1.02) and wasting (PR = 1.01, 95 %CL: 1.00–1.04) had increased with age, and no difference was observed between boys and girls. Children who lived far away from health care facilities were 1.2 and 2.4 times more likely to be stunted and wasted, respectively than those residing near a health care facility. Ownership of toilet and living close to market were associated with reduced stunting, whereas illness was associated with increased risk of underweight. Conclusions The high prevalence of stunting among pastoral children is a serious public health concern and calls for urgent action. Association of nutritional status of children with dietary intake, and health status, access to health services and toilet availability underlines the need for improved nutrition practices, health care facilities and sanitary conditions in the study area.

Sett Use, Density and Breeding Phenology of Badgers in Mediterranean Agro-Sylvo-Pastoral Systems

Carnivores social organization varies widely, from strongly social to solitary predators. European badgers are facultative social carnivores that also shows a geographical variation in social structure. These patterns derive mainly from central/west European regions, with an under-representation of Mediterranean populations that face different conservation challenges, especially regarding group composition, sett use patterns and breeding phenology. We addressed these traits topics for a population inhabiting a Portuguese agro-silvo-pastoral system. Based on monthly monitoring of 34 setts and continuous camera-trapping surveys of 12, we showed that setts surrounded by diversified vegetation and located in sandy sites are more used, a pattern probably linked to food availability and ease of sett excavation and maintenance, respectively. Badgers followed a general pattern regarding group size (2–4 adults), but showed an intermediate population density (0.49–0.73 badgers/km2), with values higher than those estimated for other Mediterranean environments, but lower than for central-western populations. This, together with the breeding (November/January) and cub emergence (1.8 cubs/sett; March/April) periods, indicates an ecological adaptation to the landscape context, where human-related resources and mild environmental conditions allow badger to reach higher densities than in many southern populations, and to reproduce earlier than their northern counterparts.