Development and Challenges of Pastoralism in Ethiopia

Abstract

This paper aims at reviewing available resources to identify pastoral development challenges and to suggest intervention options. Pastoralism is a type of livelihood whose income and social status depend mostly on livestock grazing on communal open rangeland. Livestock has diverse functions and services in the lowland pastoral production systems. Pastoral areas make significant contributions to the national economy
and support millions of people. They are also areas of great untapped potential and can play an important role in satisfying an increasing demand for livestock and livestock products, fuels, (wild products?) etc. Despite such opportunities, pastoral areas of Eastern Africa and Ethiopia have not received investments to levels expected and continue to wallow in poverty, food insecurity, and conflict. To resolve these persistent challenges, the demands are increasing for scientific research to be explicitly and demonstrably policy relevant. Although pastoral development policy related studies are available, they are not sufficient in quantity. To date, there are a few attempts to effectively build linkages between scientists and policy makers, and particularly the role of science in making effective policies to address development hurdles in pastoral areas. In this light, many scholars have underlined the necessity to improve knowledge-exchange among scientists and decision-makers to support adaptation and sustainable development. To such end, this review paper shared insights on the pastoral development aspects and challenges, and finally forwarded a few intervention options for the betterment of the system.

Keywords: Development challenges, Economic significance, Livestock, Pastoralism, Pastoralists