Abstract
Despite their importance to rural livelihoods, the economic and environmental sustainability of contemporary communal pastoral systems of the Kalahari is increasingly being put under scrutiny. Using data collected from a survey of randomly selected pastoral households from two districts of Ghanzi and Kgalagadi South, Botswana, this paper outlines the major constraints affecting contemporary extensive pastoral systems. Because of the prevailing semi-arid climate, recurrent drought outbreaks were cited as a common challenge in both study areas together with lack of fenced grazing areas. Stock theft was also highlighted as a challenge, even though it was more pronounced in Kgalagadi South. In Ghanzi area, the other important challenges included loss of livestock due to predation, while stray animals, stock theft and loss of livestock due to road accidents were equally important. Kgalagadi South pastoral households experienced serious shortage of drinking water for their livestock, followed by inadequate grazing land and limited access to distant markets. The preceding, together with several other less prominent challenges revealed in this study, exert pressure on pastoral livelihoods. There is need, therefore, to address these perceived challenges and strengthen resilience through effective policy reviews to secure rural livelihoods.
Highlights
The Kalahari desert ecosystem of Botswana is characterized by inherent climatic uncertainty, rainfall variability, and exhibits low and highly variable biomass productivity
Livestock production is central to the livelihood of the majority of rural communities in semi-arid Botswana, and it is characterized by two distinct land tenure systems, communal and commercial
Given the historical context above, the current paper focuses on contemporary pastoral livelihoods under communal land tenure
Summary
The Kalahari desert ecosystem of Botswana is characterized by inherent climatic uncertainty, rainfall variability, and exhibits low and highly variable biomass productivity. Livestock production is central to the livelihood of the majority of rural communities in semi-arid Botswana, and it is characterized by two distinct land tenure systems, communal and commercial. Apart from providing subsistence needs such as meat, milk and hides, livestock - cattle - are socioeconomically important (Keijsper 1993; Mrema and Rannobe 1996). The latter use of livestock, has often been undervalued (Abel 1997; Behnke 2008) or simplified due to the growing commercialization of beef (Darkoh and Mbaiwa 2003). The beef sub-sector still contributes significantly to the total agricultural GDP
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