International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences, 2(8) August 2013, Pages: 603-607

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International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences

ISSN
2306-7276

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Livestock Husbandry - A Sustainable Livelihood in Ethiopia

Dr. Md. Asif Iqubal
(Guest Faculty), Faculty of Arts, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.
AR TIC LE INF O

AB STR AC T

Keywords:

Livestock are omnipresent economic resource in poor communities across the developing world.
Its production is a permanent and growing component of global agriculture. Livestock and climate
change have a close relation that affects the livelihoods of livestock producers and impacts the
resilience of livestock systems in the face of climate variability and long-term change. This
research is based on climate-related issues affecting livestock production systems in the area of
Arba Minch in Ethiopia. The research has been done to show the potential decrease of poverty and
enhance resilience to climate change impacts for livestock and expand their income. Both primary
and secondary sources of data selected for this study. Results show that most of the villagers use to
have livestock just for their survival. It is cash in emergency for them. The climate change, changes
the milk giving capacity as well as the survival capacity of livestock in the area of Arba Minch.

Livestock husbandry
Climate Change
Sustainability

2013 Int. j. econ. manag. soc. sci. All rights reserved for TI Journals.

1.

Introduction

Livestock husbandry is one of the important segments of Ethiopian agriculture. It has been practiced as an auxiliary activity in the process
of production of different food and non-food grains crops since antiquity. Various kinds of livestock species like cattle, goat, sheep, camel,
hen, etc. were reared as domestic and subsistence animals. Traditional techniques and practices have been applied in the process of their
rearing. Commercial form of livestock husbandry rarely existed except in the case of milk and meat production but at a small scale with
little production to meet local demands (Berhanu Gebremedhin et. al., 2007). Cattle in some cases have been reared mainly to work in
agriculture as drought animals. Their dung is also very valuable and they were and still now used for manures as well as domestic fuels in
many villages of rural Ethiopia.
Despite very primitive and traditional form of livestock husbandry system in Ethiopia, she is having the largest number of livestock in
Africa. Ethiopia ranks number one in African countries and between 7th and10th in the world in respect of livestock numbers. According
to the available documents (446 Statistical Bulletin, 2009), the total number of cattle, sheep and goat population for the country is estimated
to be about 49.3 million, 25.02 million and 21.88 million respectively. While 1.79 million horses, 5.42 million donkeys, 335 thousand
mules, and 760 thousand camels in the sedentary areas of the country are reported. The total poultry population at country level is estimated
to be about 38.13 million which includes cocks, cockerels, pullets, laying hens, non-laying hens and chicks.
The land of Ethiopia is divided into highland and lowland having different weather and climatic conditions. The highlands typically have
higher annual rainfall than the lowlands. The highlands are characterized by relatively low mean temperatures (Jahnke 1982). Climates of
highlands vary from semi-arid to humid (i.e.sufficient moisture for 90 to over 270 growing days per year) and contain nearly all of the
important areas for cereal cultivation and mixed croplivestock husbandry (Westphal 1975). Contrary to this the lowlands are dominated by
arid to semi-arid climates (i.e. upto 180 growing days and 700 mm of precipitation per year). The lowlands are abode of various types of
pastoral people whose dependency is very high on livestock for their sustenance. In turn, these livestock depend entirely on native
vegetation for forage, and net primary production is highly variable over time and space (Pratt and Gwynne 1977).
Ethiopia has struggled with climate variability and associated disasters since antiquity. With the passes of time, droughts, food shortages
and famines, epidemics and floods affected the country at different level. Some adverse effect related to rainfall variability leads to crop
failure, death of livestock, hunger and even famine. Adaptation to climatic variability is not new for the Ethiopian lowland pastoralists and
highland farmers as there has always been variability in the climate system. The challenge, however, is to respond to both a rapid and
strong change in the current climate system (Epsilon International R&D, 2011).
Arba Minch is one of the important agriculturally developed district comprises highland and lowland agro-ecologies. It is situated in Gamo
Gofa zone of SNNPR at about 500 km. south of Addis Ababa, the capital city. Its geographical location is 62N and 3733E. The district
is located at the base of the western side of great valley and 29 kebelles and having 165680 people in the woreda according to the censuses
2006-07 (CSA). A majority of farmers are either landless labourer or belongs to marginal size of land holdings among the workforce who
is engaged in agricultural activities. Livestock and its need are very significant here.
* Corresponding author.
Email address: asifgeography@gmail.com

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Int ernational Journal of Ec onomy, Mana ge me nt and Soci al Sc iences , 2(8) Au gust 2013

2.

Objective and Methodology

Keeping in view the above statement researcher intended

I. To assess the impact of livestock husbandry on employment and income generation of livestock keepers.
II. To identify the issues and challenges faced by livestock rearers and
III. To see the effect of Climate change on Livestock husbandry
Data were collected both from primary and secondary sources of data. Primary data were collected from field surrey in the year 2012 with
the help of questionnaire. Limat kebele (village) has been chosen for study which has two parts like Kulfo and Woze. 100 households were
taken from both kebelle. The secondary data were collected from different published works like journals, books, reports etc. Data were also
collected from different officials. The collected data were processed with simple statistical techniques

3.

Discussion

Today livestock is playing very crucial role in economic growth of the people as the response of livestock revolution. This is the single
source of additional income for all types of farmers particularly the landless and marginal farmers. In Ethiopia it plays a key role for the
survival and sustenance of rural people even to urban dwellers. But for some people in study area (Limat) it is the lone source of income
generation. Table 1 shows a clear picture of the livestock dependent people in study area. All have livestock for better nutrition as well as
income generation. For most of them (73% out of 100%) it is a basic income generating activities. It is attributed to the landlessness and
labourer nature of job.
Different types of livestock are reared by different category (in respect of wealth) of people. The livestock is reared in different forms like
some rears cattle, some goat, some sheep or some chicken or even some of them rear two or three types of livestock. Mixed (CropLivestock) livestock husbandry is very rear in this area because most of the surveyed people are landless. For feeding animals they either
took it in jungle (forest) or they feed in their shed by providing grasses collected from field. The grazing system is different from usual
habits i.e. animals are reared mostly by male group i.e. male members of the family took their livestock in group around Lake Abaya. The
livestock treated for them as a cash as well as ATM in emergency time. Therefore, livestock husbandry has the largest potential to flourish
the society of Limat people in Ethiopia. The generation and health is improving up due to intake of nutritious foods like meat, milk and
eggs. Even it is a source of cash income for taking other non food grain items.
According to surveyed data, livestock reduced the poverty level by 23% i.e. 23% respondent accepted that the livestock plays an important
role to eradicate our poverty and they were highly satisfied. Rest of the people showed a positive attitude to have a livestock. Average
livestock number for each household is 2. The types of livestock among all households were cattle, sheep, goat, donkey and chicken. They
were reared for different purposes. Donkey is reared purposely for tracking the cart. This wooden cart driven by donkey is mostly used to
bring the drinking water from distant place and carry the grains to the rural market. Cattle are mostly small in size and their milk giving
capacity is less. It is used mainly for milk production. The milk is processed into butter and used for cooking, eating, applying in hair
particularly by women. There are very less product of milk due to lack of knowledge as well as their necessity. These cattle are also sold for
meat as it is a good source of nutritious for food intake in different forms of source food. They used to eat in different types including the
traditional type i.e. they used to eat raw meat with INJIRA (bread cooked from crushed Teff). As far as goat, sheep and chicken are
concern, they are mainly used for meat production. The consumption of meat is very high particularly after their fasting months. Most of
the villagers sell the animal in this occasion and in return they get handsome amount of money. Thus livestock husbandry is one of the
major subsidiary sources of income for these rural people.
Their growth in interest to rear livestock sector is important in many ways. First, by augmenting income and employment opportunities it
would benefit these landless labourers who possess a sizeable proportion of livestock wealth. Thus, the growth in livestock sector might be
considered as a valuable tool to alleviate poverty. Secondly, increase in outputs of livestock would lead to increased consumption of
livestock products, contributing towards lessening of nutrition deficiency disease. Thirdly it would improve sustainability of the crop sector
through provision of organic manure and draught power as inputs os agriculture sector. Moreover, Livestock husbandry is a small scale
enterprise which has big potential for providing a gainful employment for rural people in their own household.
Contrary to this livestock is one of the major contributors in Green House Gases (GHGs) which is an important component of climate
change. In fact it accounts for at least half of all human-caused GHGs. Considering this argument right, replacing livestock products with
better alternatives would be the best strategy for reversing climate change. But it seems impossible and thinking this is not considered as a
sustainable resource utilisation.
The livestock in study area is the victim of climate change. It is decreasing in a considerable level in each and every household since last 15
years (Table 2). This is not due to the effort of human being to decrease their number. But the decreases in number of livestock is
attributed to increasing population growth, decreasing grazing land, unavailability of dry fodder, lack of purchasing power of fodder crops,
vulnerability of climate change for livestock, unexpected seasonal change, development of town area, death of animal due to disease etc.
These all factors are interlinked and related to climate change in the study area.

Livestock Husbandry - A Sustainable Livelihood in Ethiopia

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Internat ional Jour nal of Economy, Mana ge ment and Social Sciences , 2(8) Au gust 2013

Transhumance production system was also a way for survival through many generations. The highlanders always moved their cattle to the
neighbouring lowlands during the rainy season and to the highlands during the dry season. During this period the low land holders like
Limat people used to purchase the animals from them. Recently transhumance production system has been declined mainly because of
human population growth, increasing crop cultivation, increasing settlement activities, and conflicts in the lowlands. Table 2 shows that
each and every livestock species are going towards declining trend due to above causes.
Table 3 also shows the problem faced by the people is high due to climatic change. Like disease and death of animals are maximum due to
climatic change not due to poverty or other factor. The most affected part is the feed and fodder availability. Due to unexpected rain or
early or delay rain affecting the crop production as well as livestock feed production. It followed by milk production which is directly
influenced by their diets. The milk production is less generally in winter season in October, Nov and December when there is a problem of
grasses. Unexpected rainfall is one of the factors indirectly behind the less milk production. This milk production problem again is followed
by disease and death of animals due to climate change. The mortality rate increased in respect of previous year as it is clear from the trend
of number of livestock reared in 15 years.
But these problems are solved by the people by adjusting coping mechanism of climatic effects. Like at the time of available graze they buy
&store that graze then at the time of bad weather condition the graze is utilised secondly except young livestock they sold other livestock
till the weather condition becomes good or favourable for livestock feed. The disease problem is tackled by giving traditional & modern
medicine. The impact of climatic variability on livestock is adapted by feeding the traditional alcoholic drink residue called atela.

Figure 1. Livestock are taken to Graze in Group

Figure 2. Livestock is being fed by the household member

Dr. Md. Asif Iqubal

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Int ernational Journal of Ec onomy, Mana ge me nt and Soci al Sc iences , 2(8) Au gust 2013

Figure 3. Woman is Milking the Cow

Table 1. Proportion of Responses of Livestock Rearers

Decreased the
poverty
7
10
6
23

Labourer
Farmers
Government servant

Increased the
poverty
0
0
0
0

Basic income
generation
48
3
26
73

Total
55
13
32
100

Field survey: 2012

Table 2. Trend of Livestock Husbandry in Study Area

Type of Livestock
Goats
Donkeys
Cattle
Chickens
Field survey: 2012

No of animals 15
years ago
5 (26 HH)
2 (12 HH)
5 (32 HH)
9 (32 HH)

No. of Animals 10
years ago
4
2
5
7

No. of Animals 5
years ago
3
2
3
5

No. of
Animals in 2012
2
1
2
3

Table 3. Respondents Responses for their Problem

Disease and death

Feeds and Fodder unavailability
Space for Grazing
Milk Production
Field survey: 2012

4.

Climate variability/
Changing weather condition

Poverty

Lack of
medicine

Lack of common
grazing land

Total

40
67
13
63

37
28
17
23

23
0
0
4

0
5
87
10

100
100
100
100

Conclusion and Suggestion

Livestock husbandry is one of the important segments of Ethiopian agriculture. It has been practiced as an auxiliary activity in the process
of production of different food and non-food grains crops since antiquity. Despite very primitive and traditional form of livestock
husbandry system in Ethiopia, she is having the largest number of livestock in Africa. Ethiopia ranks number one in African countries and
between 7th and10th in the world in respective of livestock number.
Mixed (Crop-Livestock) livestock husbandry is very less in study area because most of the surveyed people belongs to either landless,
public servant or labour class. The livestock treated for them as a cash as well as ATM in emergency. It has a great potential to flourish the
society of Limat people of Ethiopia. The generation and health is improving up due to intake of nutritious foods like meat, milk and eggs.
Even it is a source of cash income for taking other non food grain items.

Livestock Husbandry - A Sustainable Livelihood in Ethiopia

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Internat ional Jour nal of Economy, Mana ge ment and Social Sciences , 2(8) Au gust 2013

The livestock in study area is the victim of climate change. The decreases in number of livestock is attributed to increasing population
growth, decreasing grazing land, Unavailability of dry fodder, Lack of purchasing power of fodder crops, vulnerability of climate change
towards livestock, Unexpected seasonal change, development of town area, death of animal due to disease etc. These all factors are directly
or indirectly interlinked and related to climate change. These problems are solved by the people by adjusting coping mechanism of climatic
effects. Like at the time of available graze they buy &store that graze then at the time of bad weather condition the graze is utilised
secondly except young livestock they sold other livestock till the weather condition become well. The disease problem is tackled by giving
traditional & modern medicine. The impact of climatic variability on livestock is adapted by feeding the traditional alcoholic drink residue
called atela.
Therefore, a proper survey and analysis is urgent needed to see the exact impact of climate change on livestock and vice versa. These
climatic effects on livestock must be recorded at each administrative level for further research. To eliminate climatic effects we should
educate the individuals at grass root level in village. In addition to meat industrialist, tannery honours etc. livestock rearers can play a great
role to adapt the climate change and reduce the effect of climate change in environment but it needs the implication of all adaptive
strategies which have passed in different international protocol. This is only possible in villages when there will be awareness regarding
climatic change among the rural people.

References
[1]

[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]

Berhanu Gebremedhin,* Dirk Hoekstra and Samson Jemaneh, 2007, Heading towards commercialization? The case of live animal
marketing in Ethiopia, Improving Productivity and Market Success (IPMS) of Ethiopian farmers project, International Livestock
Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
446 Statistical Bulletin, 2009, Central Statistical Agency Agricultural Sample Survey, 2008/09 [2001 E.C.], Report on Livestock
and Livestock Characteristics (Private Peasant Holdings), Volume II,
Jahnke HE. 1982. Livestock production systems and livestock development in tropical Africa. Kieler Wissensch. Verlag Vauk, Kiel,
West Africa.
Westphal E. 1975. Agricultural system in Ethiopia. Agricultural Research Report No. 826. Center forAgricultural Publishing and
Documentation, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Pratt DJ and Gwynne MD. 1977. Range management and ecology in East Africa. Frieger PublishingCompany, Huntington, New
York, USA. 391 pp.
Epsilon International (Alebachew Adem and Woldeamlak Bewket) R&D, 2011, A Climate Change Country Assessment Report
for Ethiopia, Forum for Environment (on behalf of ECSNCC), Addis Ababa

Note: Data were collected when the author was serving as Assistant Professor in Arba Minch University in Ethiopia