"Research on Pastoralists and Agro-pastoralists in North Western Eritrea: the Case of Forto" (1993)

Fre Z. & Musa A. Ref. No 051

The study provides an assessment of natural resources and land use patterns in the area and gives a critical appraisal of agricultural and horticultural interventions and of their effect on the environment and on the pastoralists' ways of life.

Pastoral production and land use was studied in seven settlements and four representative case studies have been included. These studies highlight the difficulties in trying to define what is a very complex system where people are involved in a wide variety of activities such as trade, livestock rearing, agricultural activities in order to maximise their chance of survival in a fragile environment.

The purpose of the study is to feed information to development planners and policy makers of the newly-formed government of Eritrea with a view to avoid potentially damaging projects. The study concluded that semi-sedentary pastoralism was the most appropriate form of land use in the area, that measures to protect pastoralists' land and water rights should be introduced with a view to minimise political and social conflicts between communities, and that policy makers should make a greater effort to understand community perception and use of land resources.

The authors note that the communities who played an active role in the war of liberation have a high level of political consciousness and are demanding better access to services in particular in health and education. Unfortunately the findings of the study did not include the role of women in the area and it is hoped this can be rectified in phase two of the research.

"Socio Economic Survey Study of Sheeb and Wadi Labka" (1994)

Tseggai A., Beyene M., Fre Z. Ref. No 055

The survey's objective is to assess the impact of the IFAD-sponsored Eastern Lowlands Wadi Rehabilitation Project on the resident population. It focuses on the impact on existing social organisation, the economic structure, production systems and the environment.

Lowlanders and highlanders have always interacted with each other and moved around the area in highly organised fashion to trade, cultivate land, graze livestock and get employment. They are very experienced at using risk management strategies to ensure survival in a harsh environment.

The study highlights some areas of concern around the proposed irrigation project: the land issue remains controversial and while the government is trying to formulate some policies for the whole country, Land Tenure Law will have a bearing on the sustainability of the project. The project intends to answer some of the problem of food security in Eritrea and puts the emphasis on sorghum production. It should be noted, however, that Sheeb and other wadis have a large vegetable-production potential which should not be overlooked in favour of monocropping. The question of farmers' participation and women's role, among others, are also indicated as areas of concern in the initial project proposal.

Proceedings of the Consultative Workshop on Pastoralist Health Issues in the Horn of Africa

The workshop on Pastoral Health Issues in the Horn of Africa was organised under the auspices of PENHA and the Eritrean Ministry of Health.

Pastoral communities represent a substantial proportion of the population in the Horn countries and could make a major contribution to the economy of those countries.

While they have developed successful survival strategies, they remain isolated from other communities and do not have easy access to health (and education) services. Thus they suffer from exceedingly low health status aggravated by some features of their nomadic way of life.

The provision of health services does not feature high up on the agenda of either governmental or non-governmental NGOs. Pastoralists have therefore continued to rely on traditional medicines. PENHA’s commitment to look at alternative ways of delivering affordable health service among communities was one of the objectives of the organisation since its inception. It commissioned a number of studies in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan and held the first ever workshop on the issues of health services among pastoralist communities in the Horn.

The workshop was attended by policy makers, researchers and development workers as well as representatives from WHO, UNICEF and NGOs.

A number of recommendations about ways of ensuring that the health needs of the pastoral community are met were put forward. In particular the workshop participants called upon governments, professional bodies and NGOs to cooperate in order to deliver services more efficiently. Decisive action by governments in ameliorating the serious health problems of pastoralists is urgent.

Report on Consultative Workshop on issues of Economic co-operation in the Horn.

Nazareth May 1994

The workshop, held in Ethiopia was the result of PENHA ECHA project funded by Life and Peace Institute in Sweden. The project had commissioned case studies from Sudan, Somalia, Uganda and Kenya.

Sudan’s cooperation and integration with its neighbours would have a number of positive effects: it would more effectively mobilise resources, create larger markets eventually leading to economies of scale, enhance competitiveness of the Horn economies in larger markets through the harmonisation of trade policies. Several scenario for economic integration are proposed: market integration approach, development integration approach and market pole approach.

The discussion on pastoral economic development pointed out that policy makers and planners have failed for a long time to involve local communities and thus forfeited the chance of benefiting from indigenous knowledge. A compromise between traditional and modern techniques could be the answer in achieving successful development.

Whereas some countries have been able to start anew with the end of conflict, countries such as Somalia still suffer from political unrest as well as drought and famine. The question of shared water resources which affects all countries needs to be properly settled if major conflict is to be avoided. In order to bring peace to the whole of the region attention should focus on economic development in order to give every citizen a stake in the country.

The North-East Rangelands Development Project (NERDU): A Step in Search of a Model

Tesfai A. Ref. No 019

This rangeland development project was initiated among the Afar pastoralists in North East Ethiopia. It was an integrated project designed to develop all sectors of the economy but focused on livestock as the key part.

Prior to NERDU being launched in Wollo, the Second Livestock Development Project had been operating and both projects were assimilated later on. This brought about a set of problems and NERDU inherited some of SDLP’s activities.

The animal health component of the project was led by a vet who was assisted by several teams. Vaccination campaigns took place every year and dip-bathes were built. In six years around 1 million livestock were either vaccinated or treated.

Further work conducted included ecological and agricultural trials, sociological studies and service delivery to the pastoralists. Identification and conservation of plants were carried out by the International Livestock Centre for Africa. Nursery work was also undertaken and was enthusiastically taken up by the pastoralists.

NERDU was also expected to improve the marketing of livestock. While not being directly responsible for buying and selling, it played a didactic role in showing what benefits could be accrued from selling. This proved very useful during the 1979-80 drought.

Ultimately NERDU wants the people to be active participants so that activities can be continued and led by local people when the project phases out.

‘Rangeland Development in Kenya’

Nyawira V. M.. Ref. No. 052

The paper reviews Rangeland Development Policy from the pre-colonial period to date. it demonstrates how successive attempts were, on the whole, inspired by similar negative attitudes towards pastoralists. Most resulted in alienating those who were supposed to benefit.

By the early 1960s the Ministry of Agriculture of Kenya established a Range Management division who was to upgrade ‘the total range economy while arresting deterioration in land condition.’ The Livestock Development Project in the late 1960s was part of the programme for development in the drylands, along with establishing different types of ranches, fisheries and irrigation schemes to help food deficit.

Such policies were pursued until the late 1970s and boasted some success with group, company and commercial ranches. The success, however did not extend to the pastoral sector. Irrigation, water provision and fishing schemes were not as successful as anticipated either.

New development plans have recently been put forward and one would hope they might usher a new era for pastoralists. But the trend of seeing development in terms of production for export has a firm hold with policy makers. If this is confirmed, pastoralists will, once again, be the losers and their way of life will continue to be threatened.

Environmental Degradation in Eritrea

Yohannes W. Ref. No. 53

Changes in the environment in Eritrea are manifested by low and erratic rainfall, depletion of forest resources and water resources and declining yields.

Degradation is the result of a combination of natural processes and human-induced factors. In Eritrea vegetative cover has diminished and led to soil eorsion, runoff and loss of fertility. Loss of cover adversely affects hydrological conditions and renders water supply unreliable. In rainfed highlands food production has continued to decline. Cultivated land size has shrunk and led to rural unemployment,

A set of complex factors can explain environmental degradation. Among them are: long and short term climate change, deforestation, politcal instability and human and animal pressure caused by unimproved land use methods.