pastoral innovation in somali region-town camels and milk villagesthe case of gode town
DESCRIPTION
The emerging innovations of pastoralists to deal with longstanding challenges and take advantage of emerging opportunities to participate in national and regional politics and markets.TRANSCRIPT
Ethiopian Economic Association, Ninth International Conference on the
EthiopianEconomy
July 21-23rd, 2011, Addis Ababa
Pastoral Innovation in Somali Region-Town Camels and Milk Villages
The Case of Gode Town
By: Abdi Abdullahi Hussein, Seid M. Ali and Abdiruhman E.
Tahir.
Why pastoral innovation?
“ we are responding to natural changes from rain fall pattern to the unfavorable plant species, from social life starting at family to political governance of federalism, and to the borderless movement of technologies, commercial goods and people, and global markets presenting both opportunities and challenges at our door steps”. Pastoralist elder
1. Trends influencing pastoralist innovation in Somali Region, Ethiopia
The growth of small towns Returning population Decentralization of power and resources Services (health, education, water, transport)
Expanding livestock markets Commercialization of livestock products-milk
trading routes Irrigated farming and livestock fodder
production Camels commercial and food value-a new factor
in pastoral livelihood and Ethiopian Economy
Camel milk trade routes
12
3
4
2. Camels in Town-Gode Case
Initiation of the innovation-one person start the initiative
Hundreds of dairy camels in and around Gode
Camel husbandry in the new systemPrivate herdFeed on natural and grown pasture on
irrigation farms. (Special feed-camels soup)Less labour intensive
Camels in town...cont’d
Production and economic benefits458,760 lactating camels produce 608,315,760
liters equals 345,736,680 birrAverage family monthly income 1200 birr
Linkage between the new and traditional production systemStrong bondage between the two systems-
extended family relation maintainedBenefits of new system-lower work loads,
better accesses to markets and easy accesses to social services
3. Major challenges Competing land uses near expanding towns
Compound ignorance ( Not knowing I don’t know) on camels and Pastoral economic benefits
Lack of recognition as town residents who depend on camels
Lack of support and incentive Young generation knowledge gap Long term decreasing in camels milk demand
4. Winners and losers from the innovation
Town residents, petty traders, innovative dairy camels owners, women and poor pastoralists
Women controls income from milkThe younger generation and poor
pastoralist on the loser side Lack of skill for the younger generationMilk as commercial commodity-from shared
commodity to sold commodity
5. The way forward Documentation of innovations Recognition and support of town pastoralistsExtension service to pastoral systemScaling up of fodder production
Zczc Capitalise on surplus milk from pastoral areas-
milk taxiesLand allocation in growing towns for camel
diaries Introduction of technologies
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