Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Family Size and Wealth on Size of Land Cultivated by Borana Pastoralists in Southern Ethiopia

  • Published:
Human Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Traditionally, Borana pastoralists relied solely on cattle for their livelihood. Today, however, concomitant with declining livestock, most Borana are cultivating land as a supplement to livestock production. We tested our hypothesis that labour availability and wealth would affect the area of land cultivated by examining four kebeles (smallest administrative unit; ward) with different characteristics in Liben district, southern Ethiopia. Overall, 92 % of the households, ranging from 82 % in Qorati to 100 % in Siminto, were cultivating land. The area of land cultivated was related significantly and positively to wealth only in Siminto and to the number of wives only in Hadhessa. We concluded that the different responses among kebeles were due to variations in local conditions and, consequently, the prediction of generalities over a wide geographical range should be made with caution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. A publication of the Environmental Protection and Rural Land Use and Administration Agency, Afar Regional Government)

  2. http://usaidlandtenure.net/projects/ethiopia.

References

  • Allison, E.H., and Ellis, F. (2001). The livelihoods approach and management of small-scale fisheries. Marine Policy 25(5): 377-388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angassa, A. (2011). Effects of drought on cattle herd dynamics and its implication on local livelihood systems in Borana, Ethiopia. Food Security Center (FSC), Brief No. 1.

  • Angassa, A., and Oba, G. (2008). Herder perceptions on impacts of range enclosures, crop farming, fire ban and bush encroachment on the rangelands Of Borana, southern Ethiopia. Human Ecology 36(2): 201-215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bassi, M. (2005). Decisions in the shade: Political and juridical processes among the Oromo-Borana. Red Sea Press, Trenton, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baxter, P.T.W. (1994). The creation and constitution of Oromo nationality. In Fukui, K., and Markakis, J. (eds.), Ethnicity and conflict in the Horn of Africa. James Currey, London, pp. 167-186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berhanu, W., Colman, D., and Fayissa, B. (2007). Diversification and livelihoods sustainability in a semi-arid environment: A Case Study from Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Development Studies 43(5): 871-889.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beyene, F. (2010). Locating the adverse effects of rangeland enclosure among herders in eastern Ethiopia. Land Use Policy 27(2): 480-488.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birhanu, B. B. (2012). The Oromia rural land dispute settlement scheme, so ambiguous and expectedly not working. http://ssrn.com/abstract = 2193420

  • Boone, R.B., Burnsilver, S.B., Thornton, P.K., Worden, J.S., and Galvin, K.A. (2005). Quantifying declines in livestock due to land sub-division. Rangeland Ecology and Management 58(5): 523-532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boru, D., Schwartz, M., Kam, M., and Degen, A.A. (2014). Cattle reduction and livestock diversification among Borana pastoralists in southern Ethiopia. Nomadic Peoples 18(1): 115-145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, J., Townsley, P., Whittingham, E. (2005). Understanding the factors that support or inhibit livelihood diversification in coastal Cambodia, DFID, IMM Ltd, Exeter, UK.

  • Coppock, D.L. (1994). The Borana Plateau of Southern Ethiopia: Synthesis of pastoral research, development and change, 1980-91. ILCA Systems Study 5, International Livestock Centre for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coppock, D.L., Gebru, G., Desta, S., Mesele, S., and Tezera, S. (2008). Are cattle die-offs predictable on the Borana plateau? Research Brief 08-02-Parima, Global Livestock Collaborative Research Support Program, University of California, Davis, California, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Degen, A.A. (2011). Transformation of Borana from nomadic pastoralists to agropastoralists and shift of livestock from cattle to include more goats, camels and sheep in Southern Ethiopia. International Journal of Business and Globalisation 6(3-4): 292–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desta, S., and Coppock, D.L. (2004). Pastoralism under pressure: Tracking system change in southern Ethiopia. Human Ecology 32(4): 465-486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, F. (2000). Rural livelihoods and diversity in developing countries, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eneyew, A. (2012). Determinants of livelihood diversification in pastoral societies of southern Ethiopia. Journal of Agriculture and Biodiversity Research 1(3):43-52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eshelby, K. (2005). Pastoralists under pressure. Geographical 77(7): 42-46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flintan, F. (2010). Sitting at the table: securing benefits for pastoral women from land tenure reform in Ethiopia. Journal of Eastern African Studies. 4(1): 153-178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galvin, K.A. (2009). Transitions: Pastoralists living with change. Annual Review of Anthropology 38: 185-198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gebru, G., Desta, S., Coppock, D.L., Gizachew, L., Amosha D. and Taffa, F. (2007) Stakeholder alliance facilitates re-introduction of prescribed fire on the Borana plateau of southern Ethiopia. Research Brief 07-02-Parima, Global Livestock Collaborative Research Support Program, University of California, Davis, California, USA.

  • Goldman, M. (2003). Partitioned nature, privileged knowledge: Community based conservation in Tanzania. Development and Change 34(5): 833-862.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greiner, C., Bollig, M., and McCabe, J.T. (2011). Notes on land-based conflicts in Kenya’s arid areas. Africa Spectrum 46(3): 77-81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagmann, T., and Mulugeta, A. (2008). Pastoral conflicts and state-building in the Ethiopian lowlands. Afrika Spectrum 43(1): 19-37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Homann, S., Rischkowsky, B., Steinbach, J., Kirk, M., and Mathias, E. (2008). Towards endogenous livestock development: Borana pastoralists’ responses to environmental and institutional changes, Human Ecology 36: 503-520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homewood, K, Kristjansen, P. and Chenevix Trench P. (2009). Changing land use, livelihoods and wildlife conservation in Maasailand. In Homewood, K, Kristjansen, P. and Chenevix Trench P. (eds.). Staying Maasai? Livelihoods, Conservation and Development in East African Rangelands. Springer, New York, pp. 1-42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Homewood, K.M., Chenevix Trench, P., and Brockington, D. (2012). Pastoralist livelihoods and wildlife revenues in East Africa: a case for coexistence? Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice 2:19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Igoe, J. (2003). Scaling up civil society: Doner money, NGO’s and the pastoralists land rights movement in Tanzania. Development and Change 34(5): 863-885.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jalata, A. (1996). The struggle for knowledge: The case of emergent Oromo studies. African Studies Review 39(2): 95-123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamara, A. (2001). Property rights, risk and livestock development in southern Ethiopia. Wissencafts Verlag Vauk Kiel KG.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamara, A. (2005). The dynamics of land use and property rights in semi-arid East Africa: Ethiopia case study. In Collective action and property rights for sustainable rangeland management. CAPRi Research Brief, CGIAR, Washington, DC, pp. 21-22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamara, A., Kirk, M., and Swallow, B. (2005). Property rights and land use change: Implications for sustainable resource management in Borana, Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 25(2): 45-61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamara, A., Swallow, B., and Kirk, M. (2004). Policies, interventions and institutional change in pastoral resource management in Borana, Southern Ethiopia. Development Policy Review 22(4): 381-403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kagunyu, A., Mohammed, S., Okoti, M., and Wayua, F. (2007). Pastoral conflict and use of key resources along the Ethiopia-Kenya border: Implications for policy and development. Research Brief 07-04-Parima, Global Livestock Collaborative Research Support Program, University of California, Davis, California, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimani, K., and Pickard, J. (1998). Recent trends and implications of group ranch sub-division and fragmentationin Kajiado District, Kenya. The Geographical Journal 164(2): 202-213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kressel, G.M. (2003). Let shepherding endure. State University of New York Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Legesse, A. (1973). Gada: Three approaches to the study of African society. The Free Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lesorogol, C.K. (2008). Land privatization and Pastoralist well-being in Kenya. Development and Change 39(2): 309-331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lesorogol, C.K. (2010). The impact of privatization on land inheritance among Samburu pastoralists in Kenya. Development and Change 41(6): 1091-1115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Little, P.D. (2001). Income diversification among East African pastoralists. Research Brief 01-08-PARIMA, Global Livestock Collaborative Research Support Program, University of California, Davis, California, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Little, P.D., Smith, K.,Cellarius, B.A., Coppock, D.L. and Barrett, C.B. (2001). Avoiding disaster: Diversification and risk management among east African herders. Development and Change 32(3): 401-433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCabe, J.T., Leslie, P.W., and DeLuca, L. (2010). Adopting cultivation to remain pastoralists: The diversification of Maasai livelihoods in Northern Tanzania. Human Ecology 38(3): 321-334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesele, S., Gebrekidan, H., Gizachew, L.and Coppock, D.L. (2006). Changes in land cover and soil conditions for the Yabelo district of the Borana plateau, 1973-2003. Research Brief 06-06-Parima, Global Livestock Collaborative Research Support Program, University of California, Davis, California, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mwangi, E. (2007). The puzzle of group ranch subdivision in Kenya’s Maasailand. World Development 35(5): 815-834.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niehof, A. (2004). The significance of diversification for rural livelihood systems. Food Policy 29(4): 321-338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oba, G., and Kotile, D. G. (2001). Assessments of landscape level degradation in southern Ethiopia: Pastoralists versus ecologists. Land Degradation and Development 12(5): 461–475.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Omondi, F., and Jenkins, O.B. (2014). The Borana of Ethiopia and Kenya. http://orvillejenkins.com/profiles/borana.html.

  • Pedersen, J., and Benjaminsen, T.A. (2008). One leg or two? Food security and pastoralism in the northern Sahel. Human Ecology 36: 43-57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PFE, IIRR, and DF. (2010). Pastoralism and land: Land tenure, administration and use in pastoral areas of Ethiopia. Pastoralist Forum Ethiopia, International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, The Development Fund. http://www.pfe-ethiopia.org/pub_files/pastoralism%20&%20Land%20full%20Book.pdf

  • Reid, R.S., Galvin, K.A., and Kruska, R.S. (2007). Global significance of extensive grazing lands and pastoral societies: an introduction. In Galvin, K. A., Reid, R. S., Behnke, R. H., and Hobbs, N. T. (eds.). Fragmentation in semi-arid and arid landscapes: Consequences for human and natural systems. Dordrecht (The Netherlands), Springer-Nature, pp. 1-24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riché, B., Hachileka, E., and Awuor, C.B. (2009). Climate-related vulnerability and adaptive-capacity in Ethiopia’s Borana and Somali. Final assessment report, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). http://www.iisd.org/publications/pub.aspx?id = 1239

  • Schlee, G., and Shongolo A. A. (2012). Pastoralism and politics in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia. James Currey, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tache, B. (2008). Pastoralism under stress: Resources, institutions and poverty among the Borana Oromo in southern Ethiopia. Ph.D. dissertation, Environment and Development Studies, Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

  • Tache, B., and Oba, G. (2010). Is poverty driving Borana herders in southern Ethiopia to crop cultivation? Human Ecology 38: 639-649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tache, B., and Sjaastad, E. (2010). Pastoralists’ conceptions of poverty: An analysis of traditional and conventional indicators from Borana, Ethiopia. World Development 38(8): 1168-1178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tolera, A., and Abebe, A. (2007). Livestock production in pastoral and agro-pastoral production systems of southern Ethiopia. Livestock Research for Rural Development 19(12): 1-13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Upton, M. (1986): Production policies for pastoralists: The Borana case. Agricultural Systems 20(1): 17-35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Getachew Gebru for helpful discussions, in particular on land tenure issues, Adrian Cullis (Tufts University) for general information on pastoralism, Theodros Jima, Wario Dhadacha, Abduba Yacob, Galmo Godana and Aynalem Tekeba (Save the Children/US, Negelle-Borana) for information on Borana livestock production, Liben Jilo, kebele head from Qorati for information on pastoralist systems and land rights, Guracho Jilo Ali, water manager (abba herega) from Boba for information on well management, Sako Kulule, pasture manager (abba dheda) from Qorati for information on livestock mobility and the Borana for sharing their views with us. We also thank three anonymous reviewers for helpful suggestions. The first author was invited to discuss the content of his paper at the SRP Climate Change Forum in Ethiopia. This forum took place within the framework of the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) North–South: Research Partnerships for Mitigating Syndromes of Global Change. The NCCR North–South is co-funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Man in the Desert, Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Beer Sheva, 84990, Israel

    Did Boru & Moshe Schwartz

  2. Wyler Department for Dryland Agriculture, Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Beer Sheva, 84990, Israel

    Michael Kam & A. Allan Degen

Authors
  1. Did Boru
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Moshe Schwartz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michael Kam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Allan Degen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Allan Degen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Boru, D., Schwartz, M., Kam, M. et al. Effects of Family Size and Wealth on Size of Land Cultivated by Borana Pastoralists in Southern Ethiopia. Hum Ecol 43, 15–28 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-014-9711-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-014-9711-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation