Transformation of Afar pastoralism with climate change and a market economy

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess recent changes in 1) livestock numbers, 2) seasonal movement, 3) dietary intake, and 4) traditional reciprocity and values of Afar pastoralists in the Afar region in north-eastern Ethiopia, as a result of the main effects of climate change and the market economy. Subsequently, the authors propose measures to address the issues associated with these changes. An on-site field survey was conducted in the Serdo and Secoita communities in Dubti District, Zone 1, Afar Region, in north-eastern Ethiopia. Six Afar pastoralist households were interviewed about livestock numbers, sales, and slaughter, dietary intake, the values of livestock and markets, traditional reciprocity, recent climate change, and vegetation conditions. Afar pastoralists’ herds have decreased drastically in recent years and seasonal migration has lengthened in a search for water resources. From precipitation data and pastoralists’ testimonies, it was considered that it was caused by the increase of low precipitation years and more dispersed precipitation in the last two decades. As climate change occurred in the study area, seasonal migration tended to increase in distance in search for better feed resources and water resources such as rivers and ponds, and the seasonal migration style has changed from all members to some members of households, which has resulted in an increase in the sedentarization of Afar pastoralists. Afar pastoralists’ diet has shifted from milk-based to wheat-bread-based, suggesting malnutrition. These changes are due to climate change and the introduction of a market economy with democratization. The current situation of Afar pastoralists is such that although their practice of sharing resources continues, they no longer share livestock, and reciprocity relationships have weakened. Continued climate change will cause the Afar pastoralism system to end within a dozen years. If Afar pastoralism cannot be continued under climate change, Afar pastoralists should become agro-pastoralists by practicing crop cultivation using irrigation or becoming refugees. A strong policy is urgently needed, such as relocation to water-rich areas and/or support for job opportunities, that would allow Afar pastoralists to move from pastoralism to other livelihoods.