Livestock Production Challenges Abate

8/13/2019 Livestock Production Challenges Abate

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Livestock production challenges in the rangelands ecosystem of South Sudan

Prof. A.L. Abate

[email protected]

Paper presented at the Workshop on Environmental Management Plan for PostconflictSudan! "aha #otel! $uba! South Sudan! %ctober &'(ovember )nd! )**+

Abstract

,he rangelands of South Sudan boast a large number of animals available in significant

numbers in all livelihoods -ones ecept the tsetse fly infested south/esterly 0reen 1elt

/here only small ruminants may be found. ,he communities /ho keep the livestock alsogro/ crops in a closely linked agropastoral production system. A sophisticated rhythm

of seasonal mobility! perfected over generations! has sustained a large number of animalsin the range! /hich by recent counts includes about 2 million cattle. ,hus! not only do the

rangelands contribute to the livelihoods of the local inhabitants! they are also the basis of

a livestock industry /ith huge potential for eport trading. A number of measures arediscussed for sustainable utili-ation of the range /hile protecting the environment.

Among these are the need to understand! through research! the variability and diversity of

the agropastoralist system and efficient management of /ater resources! gra-ing and

animal populations. A number of areas re3uiring enabling policies are pointed out.

4ntroduction

With an area of +5*!**.** km)and a population estimated at 6.& million in '772 89A%!

'772: and most probably around the 2.* million mark! at present! South Sudan isendo/ed /ith immense mineral and agricultural /ealth. ;eliberate and consistent

neglect! mismanagement! marginalisation and underdevelopment! over 6* years! by

successive regimes meant that the natural resources sector of the area! ecepting recent

eploitation of its oil reserves! has not been open to investment and development.9ollo/ing the signing of the


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4t /ill further address some of the challenges affecting the livestock industry /ith a vie/

to developing areas and opportunities on /hich informed decisions on policy and strategy

could be made as affected by livestock and rangelands interactions.

(ature of rangelands

"angelands are areas! /hich by reason of lo/ and erratic precipitation! rough

topography! fragile soils and poor drainage! are unsuitable for cropping but are a sourceof forage for free ranging /ild and domestic animals as /ell as a source of forest

products such as /ood and /ild foods. ,hey consist of natural grassland! bush and

/oodland. "angelands provide environmental amenities such as scenery and open space

and are increasingly being used for various recreational pursuits such as game vie/ingand trophy hunting. ,he vegetation in the South Sudan rangelands is savanna grassland

dominated /ith acacia trees in the lo/ rainfall areas becoming lusher /ith high value

perennial grass species and intermittent /oodlands in areas /ith higher rainfall. ,hese

savannas surround inland floodplains! /hich provide animals /ith good dry seasongra-ing or toich. ,he importance of both savannas and toich is evident in their

contribution to the livelihoods of the local inhabitants and the potential significance oflivestock in the economy of South Sudan. 1esides sustaining a large number of cattle! the

range areas also support the cultivation of various crops such as mai-e! sorghum! millet!

co/peas! greengrams etc.

Livelihood -ones

Eastern Flood Plains

Subsistence cropping of sorghum and mai-e! and an enormous dependence on cattlekeeping are the main characteristics of this -one. Ethnically! the -one is inhabited by the

Murle! $ie! (uer and ;inka /ho also fish and gather /ildfoods such as forest fruits!

leaves! seeds and nuts! mushrooms! honey etc.

Green Belt

,his -one consists of Western and parts of


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Hills and Mountains

Eastern E3uatoria mainly represents this -one. ,he ,aposa! Latuko! Acholi and othercommunities /ho live here! keep livestock and are generally sedentary moving only to

nearby gra-ing areas in the dry season. ,hey farm a variety of crops over t/o seasons in

some areas of the -one.

Ironstone Plateau

,his -one etends from ,erekeka north/ards up to the


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a normal year food economy for the ;inka! (uer and ,aposa respectively 89ielding et al.!

)***:. ,he ,aposa cherish blood /ith their meat and do not eat fish but similar to the

other ethnic communities they also consume /ild foods and crops.

Production Systems

"ainfall in the livestock producing areas is variable! rarely eceeds 26* mm per annum

89A%! '772: and is similar to precipitation in the rangelands of ?enya 8see Abate et al.!'776:. ,he rain is sufficient to support grass species of the genera Agrostis! Panicum!

Cenchrus! Echnicloa! Andropogan! Brachiaria! Sporobola! Chloris! Sorghum and

Hparrheniaassociated /ith bro/se species ofAcacia!Balonites! Indigo!era! "eucaena

and Carica8Elis! '72):. ,he nutritive value of some these species given in ,able ' sho/them to contain high levels of essential nutrients and energy.

,able '


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livestock keepers is timed so that calving coincides /ith periods of pasture availability. 4t

is estimated that the transhumant agropastoralist production system sustains bet/een 6

and 2 million cattle 8$ones! )**'> W9P! )**5: in the rangelands of South Sudan.

1esides providing food! manure and hides and skins! South Sudanese livestock is often

sold or echanged for grain. %ver the years! markets have emerged and thrived albeitunder constrained conditions particularly of security.4nternal and eternal trade in cattle

have been summarised from the reports of the 9orum for Livelihoods Analysis 8)**6:

and


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eists in the agropastoralist areas in order to find sustainable solutions for management of

the system. 4n this regard! it is /ell to stress community participation in the planning and

implementation of commonproperty programmes and in ensuring ade3uate preparednessand response in the face of calamities such as drought or flooding. 4n (amibia! Mufune

8)**5: sho/ed that a community o/ned and driven livestock pro=ect contributed to

poverty reduction in rural areas because the community felt empo/ered and madedecisions that benefited members.

Water resources and their management

"egular and ade3uate supply of /ater to livestock is essential for their eistence and

sustenance of productive functions. Available evidence indicates that /ater availability isa problem in the lo/lands of Eastern E3uatoria particularly in the dry season. 4n the flood

plains! seasonal movement to toich ensures ade3uate /ater supply for Mundari! ;inka

and (uer herds and flocks. 1e as it may! it is still desirable that a policy on development

of /ater points be looked into as eperiences in ?enya 8Abate et al.! '776: and (amibia8Abate! )**5: have sho/n lo/ered animal outputs from the range /hen /ater supply

points are absent! fe/ or far apart. Limited /ater resources al/ays lead to high gra-ingpressures around permanent /ater points resulting in deterioration of the range. 4t is!

therefore! important to consider the building of earth dams! construction of /ells!

deepening of /ater catchment areas and sinking of boreholes to facilitate accessibility to/ater. Such a strategy /ould ensure controlled gra-ing of feed resources! enable more

areas to be gra-ed! allo/ conservation of dry season gra-ing and reduce feed

re3uirements for trekking 8Abate et al.! '776:. ,o ensure continuity of their useful

eistence and enhancement of their social acceptability! the management of the /aterresources need to be vested in the communities.

Multiple species gra-ing

4t is accepted that the best /ay of utili-ing range resources efficiently is in keeping adiverse herd of animals. ,his is presently the practice in the South Sudanese rangelands

and although the proportions of the different livestock species have not been 3uantified!

an appropriate balance need to be promoted thorough the etension service.


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,he South Sudanese range environment can only be sustained if stocking rates are

matched to the carrying capacity of the rangelands. As has been sho/n else/here in subSaharan Africa 84L


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Livestock Production Challenges Abate