ISERT report on economic and social situation of pastoralism in Djibouti.

Households units around the 'camp' (reer or buxa) are at the same time residential, production and consumption entities generally grouping together members of the same lineages.

Kinship and affinity are based not only on biological fact but also on a complex web of relations and ideological affiliations. Pastoral lifestyle requires a certain amount of discipline which is imposed by the communal organisation.

While there has not been ,to this day, any detailed studies of the different breeds of camelids or cattle used in Djibouti, these would appear to be similar to those of the Ethiopian Afar region or of Northern Somalia; There are resistant animals, small in size and of relatively low productivity. The size of the herds is a response to the problems of conservation of meat, milk and by-products. Milk is an important part of the pastoralists diet. Unlike in other semi-arid zones milk production is high and obtained from a wide range of species. Meat is also important whether as a means of exchange for other products, as food reserve, or for the celebration of social and family events. Generally speaking small cattle is used for domestic consumption.

Pastoralism in Djibouti has developed in a somewhat haphazard fashion which makes it difficult to obtain data about the composition of herds, the percentage of lactating females, the number of males. However figures available from other arid zones suggest similar patterns are observed in Djibouti with a large of proportion of females to males, and a low yearly increase in herd size largely due to high mortality rates. In the case of camel herds the situation is different to that of other countries. There is a high ration of males to females because pastoralists are geographically very scattered and because of the wide variety of transport activities which are carried out by uncastrated males.

Pastoralists in Djibouti do not drink blood from their herds, Meat consumption however represents a large part of their diet. Nevertheless pastoralists have always complemented their diet with other foods. Cereals in particular, whether in the form of pancakes or 'bouillies' are staple foods.

Livestock species.

While desertification has led to an increase in small stock herds, cattle still holds an important place in pastoral life. There are several breds of cattle resulting from cross-breeding between indigenous and Asiatic herds which show varying degrees of adaptation to the different ecological zones. There is a possibility of developing greater commercialisation in response to the growing demand from urban centres. However this would require solving a number of problems. Another opening could be herders associations or cooperatives as proposed by the CIDR Mission 1980-82.

Camels;

One-humped camels although introduced in the Red Sea region very early have only been used widely for a few centuries. Camels play a very important role not only for the milk and meat supply they provide, but also because, in the face of increasing desertification, they have enabled nomadic pastoralists to cover great distances. The use of camels primarily as transport animals is diminishing in some areas where roads are being developed. As Knoess suggests: 'Camels are able to provide proteins and other products at a modest cost and should not be seen as the mark of backward civilisations'.

Donkeys are often a substitute for camels and represent a very essential asset for women who look after water and fuelwood supplies.

It is problematic to arrive at a reliable estimate of the number of nomadic pastoralists. The same holds true of the size of the herds. Figures seem to indicate a higher ration of cattle and sheep, whereas a higher ratio of goats would have seemed logical where desertification occurs.

The effect of migration to urban centres is a phenomenon which affects the younger population but the bush is also suffering from population pressure and this has an adverse effect on the environment. This environmental degradation has been reinforced by population concentrating around the boreholes, urban centres and roads. Estimates that around 50 goats are needed to maintain an average family i.e. six people have been put forward. The need for daily supply of proteins is estimated at 320 grammes ( 11oz) and 13,000 calories (for the same size family unit). While these targets may be achieved (or nearly) during the rainy season, they cannot during the dry season. It is likely that the pastoral community in Djibouti lives on far less than the figures recommended by the WHO.

Pastoralists try to diversify their herds and to expand the range as a way to spread risks. In Djibouti as elsewhere, pastoralists supplement their diet with berries, wild fruit honey (as well as cereals as mentioned above). It is precisely because pastoralists cannot survive on the sole products of their herds that they tend to overstock. Population density, overgrazing and droughts have contributed to the greater vulnerability of the herds and range.

What has the response of policy makers to encourage the socio economic adaptation of pastoralists been?

There are around 10 veterinary posts in the country which would require more equipment and some transport. Pastoralists have remanded favourably to various campaigns particularly around the urban centres. In the bush pastoralists tend to adopt a much more critical stand-point and are very quick at detecting any shortcomings on the part of veterinary services. This could be overcome by recruiting personnel from within the pastoral community - as has been done in other countries.

Over the past decade new borehole digging programmes have been set up. However, the geological composition of the soil makes the work difficult and recurrent tremors often damage the boreholes. Maintaining them in working order is thus problematic and often forces the authorities to use tankers as an alternative. In addition the concentration of cattle around boreholes has adverse effects on the ecological environment because of overgrazing. In the long run it may therefore be better to rehabilitate traditional wells across the range.

Ultimately these measures can only work successfully if used alongside destocking programmes, fodder production and range improvement.

Several recommendations are made with a view to develop the present study which it is stressed can only be regarded as a preliminary document. These recommendations can be grouped under three different headings: an ecological, a socio-economic and a historical component.

1. a ethnobotanical study

a study of droughts

2. inventory and mapping of pastoralists rangeland

study of pastoral modes of production

study of livestock market and by-products

3. study of early history

medieval

modern

These studies would be carried out with a view to produce a practical guide for technicians and planners who want to learn about the concrete results of policies. Some research on new energy and alternative or appropriate technologies and their use for pastoralism would be included.