Camel Husbandry among Pastoralists in Darfur, Western Sudan

Abstract

Introduction A summary is given of a study conducted during 2003 in the Darfur states of western Sudan. The study presents information about mainly nomadic camel owners, types of camels and other animals reared, camel herd structure, purpose of camel rearing, movement during the year, feeding, management and the economic aspects of camel husbandry. The camel (Camelus dromedaries, one-humped camel) in Darfur originated in Arab countries and was introduced to the Sudan. These camels are kept in nomadic systems in the semi-desert and savanna belt of Darfur, in association with sheep and goats. Camels produce milk, meat, wool, hair and hides and are used for riding, transport and cultivation. Nomadic Sudanese Arab tribes that own camels include Maalia, Mahria, Umm Jallol, Awlad Zaid and Bani Haiba. Other tribes of the Midob and Zaghwa also own camels. Nomadic Arab tribes and other tribes owning camels have entered Sudan through the west and north-western borders via northern Chad or southern Libya, reaching their ultimate destination at the River Nile. The problems facing camel production in Darfur states include shortage of water in desert areas, complicated inter-ethnic grazing access and diseases and parasites. In recent years these areas have been affected by drought and some areas of grazing land have been partially desertified; hence migratory herds of camels have penetrated southwards into the savannah zone for dry-season grazing. Moreover, the extension of crop farms has meant a reduction of available grazing land, which has led to serious problems culminating in the Darfur war starting in mid-2003. Arabian camels have become fully adapted to the desert and semi-desert regions of Sudan. The number of camels in the Sudan was 3.20 million (FAO 1999). The total number of camels in the three Darfur states is estimated as 759,000 of which 397,000 were in Northern Darfur, 287,000 in Western Darfur and 75,000 in South Darfur (Central Bureau of Statistics 2003). The Sudan famine of the mid-1980s caused social dislocation; many farmers and pastoralists were displaced and driven from the western provinces into urban feeding stations (Werner 1994). Similarly, the Darfur wars in 1989 and mid-2003 caused social dislocation in which most pastoralists were displaced and moved to urban areas. Hence the objectives of the present study were to estimate the socioeconomic performance of camel owners and to obtain information on camel management among the nomadic tribes of Darfur. Study Area and Methods The study was conducted from January to December 2003, mainly in South Darfur State in the extreme south-west of Sudan, an area of 139,800 sq. km between latitude 8[degrees]: 30-17[degrees]: 30 N and longitude 23[degrees]: 15-28[degrees] E. Some data from northern and western Darfur states were also included. The rainy season starts in May and continues until October, with most rain falling in July and August, and an annual mean of 400 mm (Nyala Meteorological Station 1961-2002). Temperatures reach a maximum of 42 [degrees] C in May and a minimum of 15[degrees]C in January. The rangeland is semi-desert in the north to treed savannah in the south. In recent years the area of rangeland has decreased, while the area under crops and non-agricultural activities has progressively increased. A questionnaire was used for discussions with groups of three to five camel owners, visiting Nyala livestock market at monthly intervals. Some owners were visited in their camps outside Nyala city. Records were also obtained from the towns of El Fasher and Kebkabiya (Northern Darfur State) and Sarf Umra (northern and western Darfur). Characteristics of Camel Owning Families Most of the camel owners were nomadic (77%). Due to the lack of mobile schools and the need for families to migrate, 79% of them were uneducated. Forty percent of the household heads had more than one wife, with an average household size of nine. …