Abstract
This field survey was conducted in Butana area, northeastern Sudan, to study the dromedary camel production features, traits and constraints in the study area. The study revealed that most of the camel palatable and preferred forage plants and trees had disappeared and were replaced by non-palatable forage plants whereas the few remaining camel preferred forage plants were now restricted only to remote inaccessible areas. The study also showed that the classical mode of nomadism among camel herders in Butana area was sharply declining, giving way to settlement as a new emerging mode of camel husbandry. Regarding the level of education among camel herders in Butana region, it was found that majority (67.7%) of older herders were illiterate while it was 47.8% of the younger ages were illiterate. The average size of the camel herder's families was found to be composed of seven persons with 57.2% of the family members was males while the remaining percentage (42.8%) was females.When the mean total annual income of the camel herding tribes was compared with the mean total annual expenditure, it was found that the income was lower than the expenditure for all the tribes except for the Bawadra group which was the only group practicing agropastoralism among all other camel keeping tribes in Butana area. Therefore, the study proposed that agropastoralism characterized by sedentary production system based on land ownership should be encouraged as the most suitable and profitable alternative available for the traditional camel nomads in Butana area of Sudan.
Highlights
Camels are the most capable animal species in utilizing marginal areas and in survival and production under harsh environmental conditions (Knoess, 1977; Gauthier-Pilters and Dagg, 1981; Hjort and Hussein, 1986; Abbas and Tilley, 1990; Schwartz, 1992)
This paper presents data on the current status of nomadism among dromedary herders in Butana region, the forage plants and trees preferred by camels and it details some aspects of the socioeconomics of pastoral camel husbandry in the region, regarding sources of income and total income and expenditure among dromedary herders in Butana area
The study aspects included in the questionnaire comprised of camel herd preferred forage plants and trees, socioeconomic aspects of camel husbandry, status of nomadism among pastoral camel herders and, indigenous knowledge and practices of camel pastoralists in the region
Summary
Camels are the most capable animal species in utilizing marginal areas and in survival and production under harsh environmental conditions (Knoess, 1977; Gauthier-Pilters and Dagg, 1981; Hjort and Hussein, 1986; Abbas and Tilley, 1990; Schwartz, 1992). Many pastoral groups and communities in diverse eco-zones throughout the world are depending on camels for their livelihood. This dependence consists of utilization of camel meat, milk, leather and wool, exportation of live camels, uses as an important sport and tourism resource in the Arabian Gulf countries and, lastly, the use of camels as animals for packing, transport and riding (Wilson, 1984; Abdurahman and Bornstein, 1991; Kohler-Rollefson, 1992; Snow et al, 1992). In eastern Sudan, camels (Camelus dromedarius) are raised mainly in Butana region and Red Sea coast. The main camel keeping tribes in Butana region are the Lahawiyin, Kawahla, Shukriya, Rashaida, Bija and Bawadra
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