The changing lives of Borana pastoralists in Ethiopia

In Boranaland, southern Ethiopia, the majority of people rely on domestic livestock for most of their income. This way of life is changing, however, as more Borana pastoralists diversify into other activities. Farming, trade and paid labour have become more important for almost all sectors of society.

Research from the University of Manchester in the UK andMiddle Tennessee State University in the USA explores the strategies thatpastoralists use to relieve poverty and increase incomes. Drought, conflict,population growth and loss of land to agriculture have all contributed to fewerassets and poorer wellbeing among many Borana. Natural resources in the areaare also declining, leading to lower productivity and, therefore, foodinsecurity. In the face of all of these factors, diversification into otheractivities has become common.

The research looked at the activities people in this areachoose and the factors influencing their choices. They found three maincategories of activity: pastoralism (consumption ofand income from milk, livestock slaughter and hides), dryland farming (sale andconsumption of grain crops) and other activities that are neither pastoral norfarm-based (charcoal and firewood trade, casual labour, crafts and cashtransfers between family members).

The researchers looked at how factors such as wealth,gender, age and location affect the choices people make. While pastoralismremains the most important occupation for all groups, other activities are veryimportant, especially for the poorest and wealthiest in society. There are,however, differences in activities undertaken, the importance of thoseactivities to household income and the reasons why people diversify:

• Gender, age, household size, wealth andeducational level are all factors that affect choices.
• The majority combine pastoralismwith farming; labour is needed more in the dry season to collect water forlivestock. In the wet season more labour is available for farming.
• Wealthier, younger, better educated people aretaking advantage of opportunities for higher return non-pastoral activities,such as trade in livestock, which require more capital investment.
• Older people living in smaller households tendto remain purely in pastoralism.
• Poor people work in lower return activities suchas casual labour and charcoal trading. Such non-pastoral activities now providearound 70 percent of the income of the poorest group, who have suffered lossesof wealth and stock.

Despite a widely held belief that pastoralists are resistantto change and to working in anything other than cattle herding, diversificationis becoming more and more widespread. It occurs in response to poverty – as asurvival strategy, as well as in response to opportunities offered by excesslabour or ability to invest.

Policymakers should respond by:

• developing programmes to improve skills andeducation, which help people to take advantage of new opportunities andincrease incomes in sustainable ways
• developing labour programmes to take advantageof excess labour availability and increase pastoralists’ incomes
• recognising that pastoralism will remain anessential part of people’s lives and income generation, and should complementother non-pastoral activities, rather than encouraging a shift entirely toother activities, such as farming.