The pastoralism system in South-Western Ethiopia: The practices, constraints, and determinants in Itang Special district, Gambella Region

Abstract

Pastoralism is used as a livelihood strategy across pastoral areas in Ethiopia, as it is in other parts of the world. However, studies on the pastoralism system in the Gambella Region of Ethiopia appear outdated. Therefore, a study was conducted to assess the current state of pastoralism in the Gambella Region of Ethiopia and identify the challenges faced by pastoralists. The study area and participants were then chosen using purposive and simple random selection approaches. Data from 156 respondents was collected using a mixed strategy, which included focus group discussions and an interview schedule. The result showed that 67.3%, 23.7%, and 9% of the respondents used the transhumance, nomadic, and semi-pastoral systems. Moreover, resource conflict (64.7%), floods (62.8%), livestock raiding (68%), poor infrastructure (65.4%), livestock diseases (64.1%), inadequate social services (50.6%), ignorance of the pastoral system (63.5%), and expansion of farm land (71.8%) were identified as the main constraints. The model result revealed that credit access, livestock size, household labor, and education status positively influenced pastoral practices, while dependency ratio, water access, and pasture access negatively affected pastoral practices in the study area. Therefore, pastoral practices were differently influenced in the study area.