Abstract:
Pastoralists in Ethiopia reside mainly in semi-arid and arid lowlands.
According to the conventional classification, about 61% of Ethiopia’s
land is lowland (below 1500 meters above sea level). The lowland is
climatically arid and semi-arid with pockets of sub-humid areas, and is
characterized by relatively high average temperature, drought, scarce
rainfall and a fragile ecology.
According to the 2007 population census (CSA, 2008), the population
in pastoral dominated regions of Ethiopia is about 10. 3 million. The
regions comprise Somali, Afar, Oromia, SNNP, Gambella, and
Benishangul-Gumuz. Livestock production in the pastoral system occurs
in mobile and/or semi-mobile modes. In 2008, it was reported that
Ethiopian pastoralists owned about I I million cattle, 6. 5 million sheep,
15. 2 million goats and 2. 3 million camels (SOS Sahel, 2008).
The Ethiopia Pastoral Development Studies project of the Ministry of
Agriculture estimated the contribution o f pastoral system to Ethiopia’s
GDP to be 9%. Export of livestock and livestock products is among the
major earners of national foreign exchange (SOS Sahel, 2008; PFE,
2004). Pastoralist and agro-pastoralist areas such as Borena, Afar, and
Somali Regions are the traditional source of livestock, supplying 95% of
livestock destined for the export market (Belachew and Jemberu, 2003 cited in W orkneh, 2011). Although the pastoral sector makes significant
contributions to the country’s economy in terms of employment,
export, livestock production and other resources, pastoralists are
janerally exposed to vulnerable livelihoods and food insecurity— mainly
due to drought (W orkneh, 2006).
