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Issue 3, July 2005
People
and
Livestock
Inside
·
Milking drylands in
Somalia 2
·
How Borana
pastoralists use
resources 3
·
Herbal ointments
treat bacterial skin
disease of cattle 4
·
Validation of
medicinal plants in
Kenya 4
·
Rajasthan's
pastoralists get
organized 4
·
Sangeeta
Rangnekar 5
·
Publications 5
·
Coming up 6
·
Links 6
People and Livestock
is an occasional news-
letter for those interested
in promoting socially and
ecologically responsible
livestock development. It
is produced by the
League for Pastoral
Peoples with support
from Misereor.
Please send news and
contributions to the
editor, Evelyn Mathias,
evelyn@mamud.com,
Weizenfeld 4, 51467
Bergisch Gladbach,
Germany
Design & layout:
Paul Mundy,
paul@mamud.com
The opinions expressed
do not necessarily reflect
those of Misereor.
league for
pastoral peoples
www.pastoralpeoples.org
Socially and ecologically responsible development
Focus: Putting livestock keepers first
After several years of neglect, livestock is getting back on the agenda of
government and development circles (see, for example, the launch of the ALIVE
initiative described in PaL issue 1). Cities and populations in the South are growing
and with them the demand for livestock products. This, the liberalization of trade
plus other reasons are stimulating the expansion of industrial livestock production in
developing countries, revolutionizing their livestock sectors. At the same time,
livestock keepers, especially in marginal areas, are witnessing that their water
sources and grazing land ­ heretofore common resources ­ rapidly shrink due to
politics and development-related factors. Deprived of the basis for their livelihoods,
many pastoralists and smallholders have to give up. How can outsiders help those
poor livestock keepers who would like to continue livestock keeping in a changing
world?
What are the alternatives?
Past development approaches commonly focused on raising animal productivity
and maximizing production of meat, milk and eggs. But many such efforts bypassed
the poor. Recently, vertical integration and contract farming have started coming
high on the list of favoured solutions. However, they combine high labour
productivity with low employment ­ questionable in countries with big populations of
small-scale farmers and pastoralists and few employment options for all those
dropping out of agriculture.
Other alternatives seem more promising. They include empowering poor livestock
keepers to argue for their rights, helping them build strong associations, and
securing access to grazing land, water resources, services, education and markets.
Strengthening the resilience of livestock keepers
Endogenous people-centred livestock development (PCLD) pursues the latter
alternatives. It centres on people rather than animals, and seeks to support the
resilience of livestock keeping households, for instance by securing access to land
and grazing rights. Strategies include initiating a dialogue with politicians and
scientists, linking people with support institutions, and helping them explore niche
markets and voice their needs. Other strategies include lobbying for the legalization
of informal markets, lowering animal mortality in low-input husbandry systems, and
helping people to fulfil the required standards of hygiene and (zoonotic) disease
control.
PCLD recognizes that for pastoralists and small-scale farmers, livestock fulfils
multiple functions going beyond production. Another important element is respect of
indigenous knowledge and local culture. PCLD seeks to integrate local and modern
knowledge, drawing on various field-tested methodologies and approaches
developed since the 1970s. Examples are participatory appraisal methods, the use
Note to readers
Several contributors have sent summaries of articles and field research for
inclusion in this issue.
Short contributions for future issues are very welcome (maximum of 500 words).
The editors reserve the right to edit contributions and adapt them to the style of
the newsletter. We are also happy to include announcements you may have,
provided they are relevant to the focus of this newsletter. Please send any
information to the editor, Evelyn Mathias, evelyn@mamud.com.
The LIFE Initiative
www.lifeinitiative.net
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People
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Issue 3, July 2005
Page 2 of 6











Respecting indigenous
knowledge does not
mean romanticizing it
of indigenous knowledge, participatory technology development, ethnoveterinary
medicine, and many more.
Respecting and valuing local knowledge and culture, however, does not mean
romanticizing them. Only by keeping a critical distance, combined with an impartial
and open attitude, will outsiders be able to support pastoralists, small-scale farmers
and landless livestock keepers in their struggle to adapt to the ongoing change and
realize their own concept of livestock development.
For further information, contact Katrien van't Hooft, katrien.hooft@etcnl.nl or Evelyn
Mathias, evelyn@mamud.com. Unpublished concept note available.
Milking drylands: Gender networks, pastoral
markets and food security in stateless Somalia
Michele Nori
Food and social insecurity in marginal drylands is of increasing concern, as global
political, climatic and economic dynamics contribute to reshape the livelihoods of
pastoral communities from Sub-Saharan Africa to Central Asia. Market integration
of pastoral livelihoods and globalisation of their economies represent important
development options, but they also entail risk. The case of Somalia is particularly
interesting, given the importance of pastoralism in local livelihoods, the high degree
of integration into global markets, and the lack of a central state for more than a
decade.
Pastoralism is central to Somali society. It is the major source of food and income
for about 60% of the population (meat and milk alone provide 55% of national
calorie intake). It is a major asset for the economy, with more than 3 million animals
exported a year, accounting for 40% of Somali GDP and about 80% of hard
currency earnings. Since the collapse of the central state in 1991, different
situations have evolved throughout the country. In southern Somalia insecurity is
still rampant and development lags, but elsewhere in the country communities have
been able to create effective conditions for local governance and endogenous
development.
Camels are particularly relevant to pastoralism: Somalia has more than 6 million of
them, the largest number in the world. Camel milk has nurtured, treated and
blessed generations of Somalis. It has recently been commercialized in some parts
of the country, as a way to ensure food security, generate income and provide a
buffer against critical situations. Enterprising women have developed a complex
system of processing and marketing milk. This involves sophisticated resource
management, high territorial mobility, robust social capital and low transaction
costs.
The Milking Drylands research initiative, sponsored by the EC Marie Curie
programme, addresses the development of camel milk marketing in Somalia. It aims
to increase understanding of the economic and social functioning of complex and
shifting pastoral livelihood systems. It uses a livelihood perspective to investigate
socio-economic changes, with a specific focus on the role gender, clan structures
and central state control play in pastoral markets. Comparative studies include
cases from markets in Puntland (NE Somalia), Ogaden (the Somali region of
Ethiopia) and Kenya (NE provinces). Research efforts will also try to link with similar
situations in other parts of the world (Mauritania, Mongolia, Rajasthan, and others).
The overall research objective is to provide options for sensitive interventions that
stimulate and support endogenous development in pastoral areas.
More information
michele.nori@wur.nl, Rural Sociology, Wageningen University
Somali women's
initiative to
commercialize
camel milk
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People
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Issue 3, July 2005
Page 3 of 6















How Borana pastoralists use resources
Based on publications by Sabine Homann et al. (see below)
Mobility enables pastoralists to exploit differing environments and graze their
animals throughout the year. Borona herders in southern Ethiopia have ample
knowledge and experience and special decision-making structures to organise their
herd movements and coordinate with other pastoral groups in the area. Government
interventions and other development efforts have had little impact on the Borana, or
have even worsened their situation. A new approach is needed that takes
indigenous mobility concepts into account and builds on institutional co-operation in
natural resource management.
To develop concepts for the participatory planning of pastoral resource use, Sabine
Homann conducted a study in southern Ethiopia in 2000-2002 in cooperation with
the Borana Lowlands Pastoral Development Programme (BLPDP/GTZ). The study
focused on two sites (Dida Hara and Web) which had been affected in different
intensities by government interventions, and by a higher population density. Natural
resources and herd movements were mapped using participatory rapid appraisal
tools, official maps and a geographical information system (computer mapping
software). Socioeconomic characteristics of 60 households and their herd
movements during and after the last drought were analysed.
Herd mobility differed between the two locations: after drought it was pronounced in
Web but barely existent in Dida Hara, which had been more strongly affected by
development interventions than Web. Mobility during drought was similar at both
locations, as herd movements were driven by the crisis. The pastoralists had
reduced their mobility and their use of indigenous-knowledge-based range
management strategies. Power structures were weak, and conflicts occurred.
However, Borana pastoralists still had considerable organizational and
management capabilities. These could become the basis for new concepts of
resource use in the Borana rangelands. Co-management integrating indigenous-
knowledge-based range management and formal administration might be an
appropriate solution, but would require a strong external support and official
recognition from the Ethiopian government.
"Development" makes
pastoralists more likely
to stay in one place ­ so
they are less able to
use resources in an
optimal way
Indigenous knowledge
of Borana pastoralists in
natural resource
management: A case
study from southern
Ethiopia
Homann, Sabine. 2005.
Cuvillier Verlag,
Goettingen, 258 pp.
www.cuvillier-verlag.de
Herd mobility leads the
way for sustainable
pastoral development:
The case of Borana
rangelands, southern
Ethiopia
Homann, Sabine, Barbara
Rischkowsky, and Jörg
Steinbach. Paper
presented at "Deutscher
Tropentag 2004:
International Research on
Food Security, Natural
Resource Management
and Rural Development",
Berlin, 5­7 October 2004.
www.tropentag.de/2004/a
bstracts/full/57.pdf
Integrating the
indigenous knowledge
of Borana pastoralists
into rangeland
management strategies
in southern Ethiopia
Homann, Sabine, and
Barbara Rischkowsky,
June 2005. IK Notes 81.
www.worldbank.org/afr/ik/i
knt81.htm
Potentials and
constraints of
indigenous knowledge
for sustainable range
and water development
in pastoral land use
systems of Africa: A
case study in the
Borana lowlands of
southern Ethiopia
Homann, S., D. Dalle, and
B. Rischkowsky. (2004).
Tropical Support
Programme Publication
(TOEB), GTZ, Eschborn,
123 pp.
www2.gtz.de/toeb/scripts-
e/publikationen
/download.asp?
PublikationsID=283
Sources on resource use by Borana pastoralists
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Livestock contributes
19% of Rajasthan's
gross domestic product,
but receives less than
1% of the government's
funding
Medicinal plants can be
validated through
participatory methods
with ethnoveterinary
practitioners
Herbal ointments treat bacterial skin disease of
cattle
A study in Benin found that ointments made from ethanolic leaf extracts of Cassia
alata, Lantana camara and Mitracarpus scaber can treat dermatophilosis. When
applied once a day for 8­15 days to the chronic crusty or acute lesions of nine
infected cattle, crusts fell off after 3­4 days of treatment. Hair grew back on the
treated areas, without scars, within 3­4 weeks after the end of the treatment. The
animals became free of dermatophilosis without reoccurrence for more than 3
years, and remained in good health. This contrasts with experiences with the
injection of oxytetracyclin, terramycin long acting (TLA) or procain-penicillin, which
are commonly used for the treatment of dermatophilosis in Benin but cannot prevent
the recurrence of the disease.
Source: Ali-Emmanuel, N., M. Moudachirou, J.A. Akakpo and J. Quetin-Leclercq.
2003. "Treatment of bovine dermatophilosis with Cassia alata, Lantana camara and
Mitracarpus scaber leaf extracts". Journal of Ethnopharmacology 86(2/3):167­171.
Participatory validation of medicinal plants for
livestock diseases of pastoralists in Kenya
Jacob Wanyama, Vetaid Mozambique (formerly ITDG-East Africa)
Since 1996, ITDG East Africa has been implementing a participatory project to
validate, improve and promote the use of effective ethnoveterinary knowledge and
practices, and to influence the attitudes of veterinary professionals towards
ethnoveterinary medicine. For example, the project has validated three
ethnoveterinary remedies for internal parasites in sheep.
Project components have included collaborative partnerships, capacity building
(e.g., ethnoveterinary practices included in animal health training programmes),
extension materials, and policy work. Thirty ethnoveterinary practitioners (local
healers) have been involved, each representing about 100 households ­ meaning
that about 3000 households benefited directly from the project. Many others have
benefited indirectly.
The project facilitated the formation of the Kenya Working Group on Medicinal and
Aromatic Plant Species, through which a national strategy on research and
development of these plants has been developed. The project has also been
promoting appropriate intellectual property rights regimes that recognize
practitioners' property rights.
Source: Conroy (2005) pp. 175­84 (see Publications below)
Rajasthan's pastoralists get organized
Ilse Köhler-Rollefson
The Indian state Rajasthan has a rich pastoralist heritage. But its land-use and
agricultural policies do not reflect this. Although livestock contributes 19% to the
state's gross domestic product, the Ministry of Animal Husbandry receives less than
1% of the government's resources for this sector. Because of policies that support
Green Revolution agriculture and cross-breeding with exotic breeds, the state's
groundwater supplies are running dry, while indigenous and drought-adapted
animal genetic resources, including the camel and several sheep breeds, are
experiencing a stark population decline.
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People
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Facilitated by the Rajasthan-based non-government organizations KRAPAVIS and
Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan, about 40 pastoralists met on 12­13 June 2005 at the
KRAPAVIS centre in Bakhtpura near Alwar to discuss their situation and how to
make their voice heard. The meeting can be called historical: it was probably the
first ever to transgress the traditional social boundaries of caste and gender, and
was attended by both men and women from different pastoralists groups from
Rajasthan.
Throughout the meeting, there were calls for unity among Rajasthan's diverse
pastoralists communities, and the need for creating a state-level sangatan
(association) was emphasized. Such a sangatan would have multiple functions:
raising the voice of pastoralists, pressurizing the government to consult pastoralists
in policy development, marketing products, protecting local livestock breeds, saving
the pastoralists' culture, fighting corruption, developing leadership, saving the
environment, and gaining self-confidence. Under the guidance of pastoralist
leaders, especially Bhopala Ram Raika, and the supporting NGOs, a detailed road-
map was chalked out for building the association. Responsibilities for enrolling
members by 30
September were shared on a regional basis between the
participants. Pastoralists also agreed to offer hosting an Asia-level meeting of
pastoralists that is planned in the context of the Global Environmental Facility-
supported World Initiative on Sustainable Pastoralism (WISP).
The Alwar meeting was supported by the League for Pastoral Peoples and
Endogenous Livestock Development. It was enriched by the presence of Daoud
Tari from the Ethiopia-based Pastoralist Communication Initiative, and Sylvio
Simonit from UNDP's land degradation unit.
More information
ilse@pastoralpeoples.org
Sangeeta Rangnekar
We regret to announce the death in April of Ms Sangeeta D. Rangnekar, President
of the Women Organisation for Rural Development (WORD). She will be
remembered as a skilled field researcher of livestock and gender issues dedicated
to helping poor and marginalised livestock keepers. Our condolences to her
husband, Dr Datta Rangnekar, who has also been a devoted supporter of small-
scale livestock keepers in India and worldwide.
Rajasthan's pastoralists
are organizing across
caste and gender lines
­ perhaps for the first
time ever
Publications
Participatory livestock
research: A guide
Conroy, Czech. 2005.
ITDG Publishing. £16.95
or US$29.95
Based on the author's
knowledge and using
examples from many
different projects around
the world, the book for
livestock researchers and
practitioners describes
best practices in
participatory research. It
shows how to undertake
needs assessment using
participatory approaches,
and how to avoid the
problems associated with
on-farm livestock
experiments.
www.development
bookshop.com/detail.aspx
?ID=687
Livestock and
livelihoods: Who wins
and who loses?
McCorkle, Constance M.
2004. Culture &
Agriculture 26(1/2): 53­59
An analysis of publications
on animal agriculture from
an integral human
development perspective.
PTD / PID Circular:
Periodic update on
participatory tech-
nology/innovation
development
No. 14 (March 2005)
contains an extensive
annotated list of
publications where
authors can publish
experiences in
participatory development.
www.prolinnova.net/
circular.php
Indigenous Knowledge
Newsletter: For
community rights and
sustainable
development
E-newsletter on how best
to protect indigenous
knowledge.
www.genecampaign.org
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People
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Issue 3, July 2005
Page 6 of 6
Sustaining animal health
and food safety in
organic farming
Online proceedings of a
workshop organized by
the SAFO Network in
2005.
www.safonetwork.org/wor
kshops/ws4/present/index.
html
Women livestock
managers in the Third
World: A focus on
technical issues related
to gender roles in
livestock production
Niamir-Fuller, M. 1994.
International Fund for
Agricultural Development,
Rome
Examines women's
technical knowledge of
and involvement in
livestock production in
Asia, Africa and Latin
America, and provides
guidelines on how these
issues can be
incorporated in IFAD's
project cycle to the benefit
of rural women.
Coming up
European
Agrobiodiversity Day
Falls on 24 September
this year. It aims to inform
people about the status
and conservation efforts of
the genetic resources in
different European
countries.
Contact office@save-
foundation.net
www.save-foundation.net
Opportunities for village
chickens to assist with
poverty alleviation
International conference,
Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,
5­7 October 2005.
Emphasis on control of
Newcastle disease
Contact sandcp@
tropical.co.mz
www.kyeemafoundation
.org
Conservation:
The future
Magalies Park Conference
Centre, North-West
Province, South Africa, 9­
13 October 2005
6th Global Conference on
the Conservation of
Domestic Animal Genetic
Resources, organized by
Farm Animal
Conservation Trust,
Agricultural Research
Council, and Rare Breeds
International (RBI).
Contact Anelja de Bok,
anelja@gogirlevents.co.za
Conservation and
utilization of indigenous
animal genetic
resources
Chiapas, Mexico, 7­10
November 2005
Sixth Iberoamerican
Symposium co-organized
by CYTED, the Spanish
Agency of
Science and Technology
for Development, and the
University of Chiapas. In
Spanish and Portuguese.
Contact cytedchiapas@
yahoo.com.mx
15
th
IFOAM Organic
World Congress
Adelaide, Australia, 20­23
September 2005
www.nasaa.com.au/ifoam
2005
COHAB 2005: First
International Conference
on the Importance of
Biodiversity to Human
Health
Galway Radisson SAS
Hotel, Galway, Ireland,
23­25 August 2005
Focus on biodiversity and
ecosystem services to
global and human health
and international
development,
biodiversity's role in
achieving the Millennium
Development Goals; and
the risks to human health
and welfare.
Contact Nigel Malcolm
info@cohab2005.com
www.cohab2005.com
Domestic Animal
Diversity Network (DAD-
Net)
Provides an informal
forum for discussion of
management of animal
genetic resources at
national, regional and
international levels.
Managed by the Animal
Production and Health
Division of FAO.
Registration is free. DAD-
IS also publishes the
Animal Genetic
Links
Resources Bulletin
Contact DAD-IS@fao.org
www.fao.org/dad-is
Search engines for
scientific literature
Google Scholar and
Scirus are easy-to-use
search engines for
scientific literature such as
diploma and doctoral
theses, books and papers.
www.scholar.google.com
www.scirus.com
CTA digital library and
newsletters on
agricultural
development
CTA, the Technical Centre
for Agricultural and Rural
Cooperation, based in the
Netherlands, produces a
wide range of information
materials on agriculture
and rural development in
Africa, the Caribbean and
the Pacific (ACP). Many of
these books are available
online. The bimonthly
newsletter Spore, and an
online daily newsletter
about EU policies relevant
to ACP countries are also
available online.
CTA website: www.cta.int
Online publications:
www.anancy.net
Spore: http://spore.cta.int/
EU policy newsletter:
http://brussels.cta.int/
www.ifad.org/gender/them
atic/livestock/live_toc.htm