Pastoral Resource Management

A three Week Course - Awassa and Borana

Researchers: Biruk Yemane
Netsere ****

Executive Summary

The pastoralist/agropastoralist areas of the country which are considered to be home for a sizeable number of human, livestock population as well as appreciable volume of natural resources are not given the necessary attention. This could be among other things, due to lack of awareness on the part of the pastoral communiity and decision-makers as well as shortage of trained manpower in pastoral management.

Considering the need for trained manpower PENHA in collaboraation with the Pastoral Extension Team of the Minsitry of Agriculture in Ethiopia launched a three-week training course for 31 middle level technical staff from 6 pastoral Regions of the country under the theme ‘Pastoral Resource Management’.

The training course focused on range, livestock, wildlife, water resources development, natural resource management and socio-cultural issues.

The course was arranged in such a way that the first 12 days were allocated for theoretical session which lasted for a total of 72 hours followed by 6 days field tour to the Borana rangelands.

At the end of both the theoretical session and field tour participants were given the chance to evaluate the training course. The results showed that in general, those attending were very satisfied with the course. Furthermore in order to assess the understanding of participants, group assignment was given and presentations were delivered in the presence of participants, lecturers and invited guests. Issues considered pertinent were also addressed for further consideration by researchers, development extension workers and decision-makers.

In order to conduct the training course a total amount of Birr 125,696 has been utilised. Out of the total utilised, major expenses were incurred for out of pocket expenses, transportation cost and per diem (38%, for participants and honorarium for lectures (21%). In addition, local organisations (including the Agricultural Bureau of the SN & NRPG) have made real contributions of both services and of their knowledge and expertise.

Evaluation of the MOA-PENHA Regional Training Course in Rangeland and Livestock Development. August 1996, Addis Ababa

Researcher: Beruk Yemane

Summary

The Pastoral Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa (PENHA) in collaboration with the Third Livestock Development Project (TLDP) of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) conducted a 3 week short term training course. The course was attended by 23 participants from Ethiopia (16), Eritrea (4) and the Sudan (3), mainly engaged in the area of pastoralist and agro-pastoralist development.

Main topics covered during the training included rangeland management, range ecology, range survey, range-livestock nutrition, rangeland improvement, fodder production, animal production, animal health, natural resources management, socio-cultural aspects and water resources. The total lecture time covered was 80 hours. In addition to the lectures given, audio-visual aides, case studies and study tours to different research statioons and development istitutions were arranged. Furthermore, after regular class hours participants were given the chance to attend both subject -matter related and educational video shows. At the end of each main topic, participants were given tests on specific topics.

The training course was given by subject matter specialists from the MoA, Addis Ababa University (AAU), PENHA and freelance consultants. At the end of the training course, participants had the chance to evaluate the course as a whole using the evaluation questionnaire.

The total cost of the training amounted to ETB 125,105 ($US 19,858) of which the major share went to allowance and hotel accommodation for the trainees and honorarium for instructors.

Important lessons that could be learnt from the training included problem sharing and exchange of experience, exposing participants to scientific appraoches in range and livestock development, creating awareness of properly unutilisez indigenous knopwledge. Furthermore exposing trainees to the different research works being undertaken, creating personal and institutional c ontacts, identifying further training programmes and paving the way for future national and regional technical co-operation were some of the issues covered during the course.

Based on the recommendation of the participants as well as the firm support from PENHA, a training package for pastoralists at grassroots level has been prepared in an outline form with major emphasis on natural resources, feed source, animal health, genetic improvement of the indigenous livestock, livestock marketing, livestock recording and water developmment.

Finally, since the training course should address the means to devise a method for future follow-up and contact between the participants, and PENHA the following recommendations have been put forward.

PENHA has taken the intiative to organise and co-sponsor the training progamme and it has got its base and good contacts with countries in the Horn of Africa. Therefore PEHNA taking the lead and in collaboration with the concerned research, training and development institutions of the respective countries, can act as a focal contact point for future follow-up in matters related to pastoral and agro-pastoral rehabilitation and development endeavours.

Evaluation of Some Traditional Herbs in the Highlands of Ethiopia for their Anthelmintic Value against Helminth Parasites in Sheep

Researchers: Taffese Mesfin
Sisay Lemma
Gebru Bonger
Gebrenegus Tesfamariam
Zeleke Assaye

Summary

In recognising the economic importance, widespread distribution and multiple occurrence helminth parasites in the Ethiopian ruminanat livestock, population distributed in the various agro-ecological zones the use of chemotherapeutics and proper-graze management have been recommended as control measures. Thoguh potentially effective the applicability of these control measures among the traditional resource poor farmers and the continuously moving pastoralists is limited due to expense, irregular availability abd the currently practiced uncontrolled grazing system. Assuming that the use of traditional herbal medecine would complement and thus reduce the complete reliance on modern drugs, the value of different parts of a number of plant species against nematodes, t rematodes and cestodes were evaluated in a series of experiments using lical sheep in the central-northern highlands of Ethiopia.

Suspensions, water extracts or juices from a total of 14 plant species were administered orally at various dose levels to naturally infected sheep purchased from surrounding markets during the wet and dry seasons. Efficacy of the various preparations were evaluated based on pre- and post treatment microscopic faecal sample examinations and postmortem findings on dead and killed animals.

Through the methodologies applied in this specific study none of the materials tested demonstrated a reliable and consisten anthelmintic effect. Although some herbal preparations have shown some effectiveness agaisnt liverfluke the results were variable and inconsistent. Other than the female flowers of Koss (Hagenia abyssinica), which is widely known agaisnt human tapewqorms, seeds of Duba Fre (Cucurbita pepo commonly known as pumpkin) showed a complete effectiveness agaisnt Moniezia in sheep. However at the dose levels administered (440, 600, 800 g/sheep) it was followed by death of treated animals within 1-2 weeks of time with severe toxicity manifestation. Wide variability among individual animals and inconsistency of results have been observed within and between trials. Results achieved in the current study indicate the need for further screening works on the large number of traditionally used plant species and much detailed clinical studies on plant material found effective and on those showing partial effectiveness as that it may reveal solid scientific explanations for the efficacy and appropriateness of much traditional veterinary practices.

Trading Places. Alternative models of economic co-operation in the Horn of Africa

Researchers: Belay Gessesse
Yacob Arsano
Dr. Tesfay haile
Dr Adlan El Hardallo
Atta Hassan El Battahani

Funding: Life & Peace Institute, Uppsala

Research into Models of Economic Cooperation in the Horn of Africa

The new prospects for peace, in some of the countries of the Horn at least, offer new opportunities to develop economic cooperation across countries in the region. This paper suggests practical ways of achieving integration and uses three case studies from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan, to look at the various opportunities (and difficulties) which can be envisaged.

The Sudan case study gives an outline of suitable approaches to economic integration. Several alternatives are put forward but, as the author concludes, existing constraints on regional trade such as complicated import-export procedures, lack of incentives and government support as well as inadequate transport and communications render things difficult.

In Eritrea industires have been adversely affected by colonial economic policies and of course by the prolonged war. The paper enumerates a number of steps the present government should take to make public industries efficient. It further argues that since the inter-dependence between Eritrea and Ethiopia is very strong, it would be in the interest of both to use the same currency, and to exchange resources in order to promote economies of scale. With the rest of the region measures such as collaboration in regional development, planning and banking, in order to avoid duplication should be followed. However, peace and stability are a pre-requisite effectively to bring about these developments.

The question of shared water resources is addressed in the last case study. Since agricultural resources are important for the economies of all Horn countries, the question of water resources is crucial. The study highlights the areas, potentials and problem sharing cross-border water resources.

Effective managmement and utilisation of water resources is key for the socio-economic development in many of the countries concerned. At present there is no legal mechanism to apportion water among the riparian states. On the whole, water uses have been maintained by threat of force. What prevails is a state of confrontation leading to latent, and sometimes open, conflict. New negotiations need to be entered upon. The recent agreement signed between Ethiopia and Egypt shows signs that more rational negotiations can begin. This might pave the way for other countries to follow this example.