Borana Pastoralists Research Articles

Livelihood vulnerability of Borana pastoralists to climate change and variability in Southern Ethiopia

PurposeThe purpose of this study results and recommendations will have a paramount significance for policymakers, policy advocates, development planners and practitioners who may be in need of such information for reconsideration, evaluation and inclusion into their respective development and humanitarian programming and operational strategies. Above all, the study result has further provided the local community with viable adaptation strategies to climate-induced changes in the study area.Design/methodology/approachThis study was conducted to measure the livelihood vulnerability of Borana pastoralists to climate change and variability in southern Ethiopia. Pastoralists’ households were sampled using multistage sampling techniques. A total of 27 socio-economic and biophysical indicators were used to reflect vulnerability components: adaptive capacity, exposure and sensitivity. Principal component analysis was used to develop weights for indicators and to produce livelihood vulnerability index to classify households according to their level of vulnerability. Ordinal logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of vulnerability to climate-induced stresses.FindingsThe results showed that 24.4% of households were highly vulnerable, 60.3% were moderately vulnerable and 15.3% of households were less vulnerable to climate-induced stresses. Factor estimates of the logistic model further revealed that early warning information, bush encroachment, coping strategy, temperature, drought frequency, provision of humanitarian services and food shortage during the normal season of the year have a significant influence on vulnerability in the study area.Social implicationsThe study’s results and recommendations will be of great significance to policymakers, development planners, and practitioners who require such information for reconsideration, evaluation, and inclusion in their respective development and humanitarian program and operational strategies. Most importantly, the study’s findings have provided the local community with practical adaptation strategies to climate-induced changes in the study area.Originality/valueThe study explored pastoralist perception of climate change and variability and measured the livelihood vulnerability of pastoralists’ households to climate change and variability and finally investigated viable adaptation and coping strategies in the study area.

Effect of Tapping on Gum and Incense Yield of Selected Trees Species in Elwaye and Dhas Districts, Borana Zone, Southern Oromia

Ethiopia is one of the Gum and Resin producing countries with a large potential. Borana pastoralists particularly utilised these resources as a source of revenue. The majority of Ethiopia’s gum-resin products are collected from natural oozing. In southern Ethiopia, improved tapping mechanisms are uncommon. This study was conducted to determine the effect of different tapping machines and tapping at different tree diameter classes on the gum and incense yields of selected tree species. Commiphora corrugata, Boswellia microphylla, and Boswellia neglecta tree species were selected for their potential existence and economic importance. A factorial experiment was arranged in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) in which three types of tapping materials including natural oozing and three levels of tree size (diameter classes) were used. Accordingly, materials (Panga, Axe, Sonki, and control) were applied at diameters of (5-8 cm, 8.1-11 cm and >11 cm) for a tree height below DBH (at < 130 cm) and above DBH (at >130 cm) on selected tree species while natural oozing was remained untapped and used as controls. Accordingly, the highest mean yield was recorded for trees tapped by axe (5.99 g/tree), followed by Sonki (5.01 g/tree) and bigger diameter class >11 cm (7.10 g/tree) for Commiphora corrugata. The highest mean yield was also obtained for trees tapped by axe (10.76 g/tree) in the first year and (43.71 g/tree) in the second year and bigger diameter class >11 cm (15.16 g/tree) in the first year and (47.81 g/tree) in the second year for Boswellia microphylla. Moreover, the highest mean yield was recorded for naturally oozing trees (6.16 g/tree) and bigger diameter class >11 cm (6.33 g/tree) for Boswellia neglecta. Tapped trees generally provided significantly higher yields than untapped or control trees, and frankincense yield increased with increasing tree size

Livelihood Transformation among the Borana Pastoralists of Dhas District, Southern Ethiopia

This study intends to examine the triggers of livelihoods transformation among the Borana pastoralists of Dhas district in Borana zone, southern Ethiopia. The Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools, such as key informant interviews and focused group discussions, were used to explore the perceptions of local communities on the causes of livelihood transformation and its impact on the well-being of pastoralists and their overall survival. Purposive sampling was used to administer key informant interviews and FGDs. The findings of this study indicate that the foremost causes of livelihoods transformation in Dhas district include frequent drought and environmental degradation, pastoralists’ sedentarisation policies and conflict over boundary and grazing lands. Previously, pastoralism livelihood system was the most viable strategy in the study area providing sustainable livestock products, while, at the same time, protecting water and rangeland resources and safeguarding environment warrant the Borana pastoralist’s well-being. However, with the changing livelihood dynamics, the Borana’s pastoral system underwent major upheavals, enfeebling the pragmatism of these practices. Therefore, this study concludes that a comprehensive development strategy for supporting pastoral livelihood becomes the need of the hour to guide the efforts of all relevant stakeholders operating in pastoral areas.

Characteristics and Determinants of Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius) Production in Borana Plateau, Ethiopia

Drought mitigation strategies using dromedary camel production and lifestyle diversification are gaining popularity in the Borana plateau, Ethiopia. Borana villages have recently emphasized camel care as a strategy for responding to the severity of periodic droughts. Although Borana pastoralists are becoming more interested in camel management, the underlying causes of the region's expanding camel population have yet to be addressed. Despite available information on the characteristic of camel herders and determinants of production, the appropriate policy for the commercialization of camel potential has been hampered. The purpose of this study was to investigate the demographic characteristics and determinants of camel production. The variables of interest were; sources of income, culture, sources of starting camels, years of rearing experience, reasons for keeping camels, herd structure, and compositions, and availability of feed and water sources. A cross-sectional study design was conducted in the Yabelo, Elwaye, and Gomole districts of the Borana zone. The household survey; a structured survey questionnaire, a participatory focused group discussion (FGD), and key informant interviews (KII) were used. A total of 364 household interviews, 3 FGDs, and 12 KIIs were conducted to understand the depths of the socio-economic characteristics and determinant factors of camel production. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics in all the parameters tools using SPSS version 21. The Chi-square tests were conducted to evaluate the dependence between tribes’ affiliations and categorical variables. Demographic characteristics, sources of income, origins of camels, years of rearing experience, reasons for maintaining camels, herd structure, and compositions were not significantly different (P<0.05), according to the findings. The study revealed that the camel production determinants between the ethnic affiliations were also significant differences (p<0.05) between the ethnic groups and study areas. The findings were contradicting the expectation that different socioeconomic characteristics of camel herders and determinant factors among tribes. Therefore, this finding could be forwarded, a need for a comprehensive camel production policy as well as regulatory interventions for camel pastoralism in the study areas. and addressing other promotions on camels as “animal of the future” Keywords: Camel herders, Camel production, pastoralists, Borana, Ethiopia DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/12-13-03 Publication date: July 31 st 2022

Erosion-control interventions associated with pond-catchment rehabilitation on the Borana plateaus, Southern Ethiopia

Among the major problems of Borana pastoralists are scarcity of potable water inside dry season and gully erosion in a widespread on the Borana plateau. Gullies are the main pathway for sediment accumulation in community ponds, which reduces pond capacity. Ponds are therefore a critical source of water during dry seasons the Borana rangelands. However, most ponds rapidly fill with sediment from eroding catchments after rainfall events and hence, their water holding capacity gradually get reduced. Much work is then required each year from the communities to remove sediment manually. Erosion of pond catchments is the consequence of uncontrolled grazing that causes heavy grazing and trampling by livestock. Sediment movement in gullies can be substantially reduced by installation of sieve structures that slow down water flows and allow sediment to settle out of suspension. Sieves can be easily constructed from trees by community labour at low cost. Yabello researchers have demonstrated that a series of sieve structures down a secondary gully in Bunaka and Liban Jatani pond that effectively trap sediment. When gully head treatments are accompanied by a series of sieves in the main channel, gully erosion can be arrested, gully floor and walls re vegetated and sediment captured. Overall, protection of grazing land from livestock reach for only one year led to a 55.45% increase in ground cover. Similarly, increases in cover tended to be greater (118.1 % more) at Liban Jatani pond that had less cover at the beginning when compared to Bunaka pond. Protection from livestock grazing led to substantial increases in ground cover. Within the Liban Jatani pond enclosure, ground cover steadily increased at each sampling period by 7.1% in June 2019, 11.13% in November 2019.

Deception and default in a global marketplace: the political economy of livestock export trade in Ethiopia

ABSTRACT During 2014–2019, cattle exports from Ethiopia declined more than 95 percent. This trade depends largely on Borana pastoralists of southern Ethiopia and a credit system of deferred payments. The article asks: How did the deferred payment system contribute to the collapse of the trade? It argues that credit defaults ripple through the entire value chain and help to explain the export collapse. By examining how the circulation of credit and debt in the cattle export business disadvantages pastoralists and local traders, the article demonstrates how a once booming trade was undermined by its own contradictory processes and unequal relationships.

Soil Seed Bank Study and Propagation Methods of Selected Gums and Resin Producing Tree Species in Wachile District of Borana Zone

Gum and resin bearing tree species were one of the very important resources in Ethiopia. Particularly, Borana pastoralists were used these resources as a source of income generation for their livelihoods. However, the resource was declining over a time due to different natural and human made problems. Therefore, it is important to study for its future sustainability through soil seed bank, seed germinations, vegetative propagations and analyzing its natural regeneration status.<i> Commiphora myrrha, Boswelia neglecta, Boswellia microphylla</i> and<i> Acacia senegal</i> were gum and resin bearing tree species selected for this study. With this; soil seed bank samples were collected from under and outside the canopy of selected tree species. Five tree species of each tree were used to collect soil seed bank sample at two canopy cover and three different soil depth, and 120 soil seed bank samples were taken from all types of tree species and evaluated for its germination. Seeds of selected species were also collected and evaluated for their germination. Moreover, stems and branches of those species were cut, planted and evaluated for their sprout. As a result, the absence of seeds of those species both inside and outside the canopy of trees in all soil depth layers was confirmed. This may be due to seed losses through (fire, degradation and over grazing), improper settlement, over logging, debarking, human over use for food, improper tapping. The result of analysis of variance also showed that, seedling germination percentage, survival percentage, shoot height and root height were highly significant different at (p<0.001) among all the treatments. The observed mean value of germination percentage were 99%, 46%, 40% and 25% for <i>Acacia senegal</i>, <i>Boswellia microphylla, Boswelia neglecta </i>and<i> Commiphora myrrha </i>respectively. Thus, the seed of those species doesn’t have dormancy and all healthy and filled seeds had high germination rates. About 60% of<i> Boswellia microphylla </i>and <i>50% </i>of both<i> Commiphora myrrha</i> and<i> Boswelia neglecta</i> were sprouted in the fourth year of the studies. Hence, it is advisable to use stem propagations for any conservation purposes incase seeds of those species fail to germinate except for <i>Acacia senegal</i> as it is naturally not propagated by stem cutting. Therefore, it is recommended to increase the regenerations of those species by reducing overgrazing, avoiding burning of those species and reduce land degradations and also using seeds and vegetative propagations if any management aims for conservations.

Prevalence and risk factors of Brucella spp. in goats in Borana pastoral area, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

Goat production plays an important role in the livelihood of Borana pastoralists. Optimal utilization of the goat population, is however, impaired by diseases such as brucellosis. Brucellosis is considered as one of the serious diseases incurring considerable loss to the goat industry through reproductive wastages. The situation of brucellosis has not been investigated in goats in Borana pastoral areas despite the frequent occurrence of abortion. This study wasconducted from November 2016 to April 2017, aimed at determining the prevalence of infection with Brucella species, identify the risk factors of infection and understand the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of pastoralists about the disease. Serum samples were collected from a total of 789 goats from three randomly selected pastoral districts. The samples were tested using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). The study survey results showed that most of the pastoralists (≥64.2 %) and (≥81.6 %) had poor knowledge about brucellosis and its zoonotic importance, respectively. From a total of 789 sera samples 137 (17.36 %; 95 % CI: 14.78, 20.19) tested positive for anti-Brucella antibodies. The highest seroprevalence was observed in Elwaya (71/252; 28.17 %; 95 % CI: 22.71, 34.16) followed by Moyale (48/332; 14.46 %; 95 %CI: 10.86, 18.71), whereas the lowest prevalence was observed in Yabello district (15/208; 8.78 %; CI: 5.29, 13.52). The results of multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that sex and age of goats were significantly associated with seroprevalence of brucellosis. The odds of infection was nearly 7 times (OR: 6.97) higher in female goats than in males (P < 0.001). Adult goats were 12 times (OR: 12.19) more likely to be infected than their younger counterparts (P < 0.001). For goats raised in large sized flocks (OR = 2.57; P = 0.028) and for those goats originated from Elwaya district, the risk of infection was significantly higher (OR = 7.91; P < 0.001). The history of occurrence of reproductive problems in female goats is significantly associated with seropositivity to Brucella infection (OR = 5.32; P < 0.001). This study showed that a significant proportion of goats in Borana pastoral districts were infected with Brucella, suggesting its economic implication and zoonotic importance.

Effect of Temperature, Storage Containers and Improved Hygiene on Microbial Safety and Chemical Quality of Traditional Meat Products

Preservation of meat and meat products is important due to its short shelf life and perishability. The pastoralists of Northern Kenya processed and preserved traditional meat products for consumption. The traditional meat products are relished food both for nutritional and cultural heritage among the Borana pastoralists. The study was carried out to assess the microbial safety and chemical quality of traditional meat products. The samples were collected immediately after processing and transported in a cool box to the food laboratory for microbial analysis and determination of changes related to lipid oxidation during storage for seven weeks at ambient temperature and at refrigerated temperature (5 °C). Microbiological quality of the samples was assessed by Total Viable Count (TVC), Escherichia coli count, Staphylococcus aureus count and yeast and mold count. Result showed that Staphylococcus aureus, yeasts and molds were detected in the products and there was increase of Staphylococcus aureus count from (1.44 log10 CFU/g) to (2.28 log10 CFU/g)) during storage at ambient temperature for seven weeks. Samples stored at refrigerated 5oC showed less counts of microbial load. The peroxide value, acid value and thiobarbituric acid levels were below the value associated with meat spoilage during the expected shelf life. Reduction of moisture during drying of traditional meat products and cooking of meat at high temperature contributed towards reduction of microbial load. However, poor handling and post contamination may lead to poor microbial quality of traditional meat products.

Milk Market Performances and cofounding factors along Milk Value Chain in Pastoral Area: A Case of Borana Pastoralists, Borana Zone, Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Borana zone with the objectives understanding the milk market performance and challenges along the value chain. The primary data was collected from 123 households that drawn proportionally following multistage sampling based randomly selected households. Additionally, relevant information was collected from different sectors besides relevant literatures session. Similarly, Focused Group Discussions, key informant interview and visual observations were also undertaken to collect the primary data. In the course of data collection, different set of checklists were used for different group of actors to guide survey data collection, group discussions and key informant interview. The study found that input supply, natural calamity, marketing system, declining of livestock productivity, infrastructure and hygiene are among the major challenges along the dairy value chain. Above all, the dominance of value chain actors by pastoralists coupled with fragmented milk marketing system were the critical factors that stunted the milk market system in the study area. As a result, the performance of milk value chain is fragmented and distorted. Moreover, the supply of milk to the market become meager even though the milk selling practices has been flamed. Additionally, the dilution of pure drought resistant Borana cattle called “Qorti” is at its critical level of its extinction which challenge the milk production. Thus, it is important to enhance the milk marketing, encouraging milk supply and improving milk productivity.

Market knowledge as a driver of sustainable use of common-pool resources: A lab-in-the-field study among pastoralists in Ethiopia

Rural communities that depend on common-pool resources for their livelihoods are being increasingly affected by the expanding global market system. Because such market integration is still relatively thin, communities vary in terms of market comprehension. Using a common-pool resource dilemma experiment, this study examines the effect of market knowledge on decisions concerning the use of common-pool resources among Borana pastoralists. Participants chose to use shared grazing rangelands at low or high levels of grazing intensity. Depending on the resource-use decisions in previous rounds, the participants encountered different pasture-availability conditions that required them to make trade-offs between their short-term interests and the long-term sustainability of the shared rangelands. The results indicate that, when resource conditions were good, resource users with more market knowledge are more likely to choose lower grazing intensity. During scarcity, this effect is weaker. The results further show that within-group variance in market knowledge has a negative effect on decisions relating to sustainable-resource use in times of resource scarcity. The results imply that providing an understanding of market functioning is of vital importance to protecting shared natural resources from depletion in communities experiencing increasing impact from the global market economy.

Livestock Banking as Innovative Response to Effects of Recurrent Drought in Pastoralist Communities: the case of Borana, Ethiopia

This article intends to introduce Livestock Banking as an innovative idea that aims at addressing problems pertinent to recurrent drought among the Borana pastoralists in Southern Ethiopia. Borana are pastoralists whose livelihood is dependent on cattle economy. However, pastoralism among the Borana have been under serious pressure from both manmade and natural factors. Some of these factors are recurrent drought and ever degradation of rangeland, the introduction and expansion of farming at the expense of pastoralism, inter-ethnic conflict, neighbours’ annexation over Borana rangeland, government induced development interventions with unforeseen negative effects. The idea of Livestock Banking is, thus, designed to build resilience of the communities against the effect of recurrent drought. This innovative idea is initiated based on the Resilient Africa Network (RAN) call for proposals. In the context of this innovative idea, Livestock Banking refers to a community oriented business organization that keeps, exchanges and produces livestock, invests in improving livestock productivity and marketability, loans live animals and gives it back with profit in cash or in kind when the depositor requests. The bank will also serve as local insurance agent against effects of the re-current drought based on climate forecast. It will participate in preserving best livestock breed and distribute to individual herders up on requests; participate in livestock feed and fodder production; provide veterinary services and trainings to produce professionals in livestock production; have animal product processing factories, invest in livestock fattening, sell quality animal products to international and national markets. Currently, the piloting project of this innovative idea is ongoing.

Indigenous Environmental Knowledge of Borana Pastoralists

This paper investigated the indigenous environmental knowledge (IEK) of Borana pastoralists in Dhas district of Borana zone in Southern Ethiopia. To select participants for key informant interview and focus group discussion (FGD), snowball sampling was used to pinpoint people who have IEK of Borana pastoralists. Results show that the customary practices of Borana pastoralists that linked to multi-dimensional natural resources management (NRM) include the taxonomy of pastureland and water resources instituted on the season of utility and gazing dimensions, range scouts, herd splitting, cattle mobility, herd diversification, and bush burning. However, currently owing to various factors the IEKs of Borana pastoralists have been facing threatening challenges that question their existence. The study incorporated the capitalization on the customary institutions that advance the IEK and cattle productivity finally improving the livelihoods of the Borana pastoralists. This research intends to help various stakeholders, predominantly pastoralist development office, ecologists and other development partners in a bid to develop Borana pastoralists, to boost their sustainability, and to promote sustainable NRM.

Assessing the Challenges and Opportunities of Pastoralists Sustainable Livelihoods: The Case of Yaballo Woreda of Borana Zone, Oromia

The main purpose of this study was to Assessing the Challenges and Opportunities of Pastoralists Sustainable Livelihoods: The Case of Yaballo Woreda of Borana Zone, Oromia Region. The study aimed at exploring the livelihood challenge facing by Borana pastoralists and potential for livelihood improvement. It is based on analysis of survey data generated from household level interviews in Yaballo Borana Zone southern Ethiopian Pastoralists’. To this end, interviews were carried out with local community leader and with selective local households. Moreover, scheduled questionnaires were carried out with the sample households and the FGDs' were organized with households in the selected Kebeles'. The study used mixed method research in data collections framed within the subject of sustainable livelihood framework for analyzing multifaceted relationships that exit between assets, livelihood strategies and outcome. The study found out that pastoralist are confronted by many livelihood risks such as lack of access to resources that are needed for their sustainability of their livelihood such as poor market conditions, lack of health services, and limited access to safe and clean water. Land has been the scarcest resource because investors and farmers own the huge part of village land. Keywords: Pastoralism; Challenge; Opportunity; Sustainable livelihood; Yaballo; Borana; Ethiopia DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-5-05 Publication date: March 31 st 2020

Factors Contributing for Livestock Excessive Mortality in Borana Pastoralist Area: Signal for Leadership and Disaster Risk Management Policy of Ethiopia

Livestock production is one of major mainstay in pastoralist area. In order to keep its livestock, pastoralist applies traditional drought coping mechanism. Currently Government of Ethiopia addressing drought disaster in the area of pastoralist by implementing disaster risk reduction management policy. However there are excessive livestock mortality in pastoralist area of Ethiopia specially Borana. The objective of this paper is to find out factors contributing for excessive livestock mortality in the pastoralist area and analyze its signals for Ethiopian National disaster risk management policy implementation of pastoralist areas. The main data for this research come from primary and secondary sources. The research use mixed method to collect and analyze data. Data collecting tools were questionnaire, key informant interview, focused group discussion, observation and document review. The finding of the study portray that lack of awareness of pastoralist to manage the quality of livestock, lack proper attention for pastoralist, lack of animal health facilities in the adjacent area of pastoralist production, outbreak of livestock disease, inadequate pasture land because of expansion of farming land and tribal conflict, failure of traditional coping mechanisms such as mobility, failure of early warning system and absence of livestock marketing in the pastoralist area are contributing for excessive livestock mortality in the area. This research conclude that current disaster risk management policy implementers and leadership able to consider the extension works intensively to raise the awareness of the community to sell their livestock before serious drought period, due attention for causes of pastoralists and pastoralist centered policy, expand animal health facilities in relation with livestock population, deploy necessary animal health technician in the area, introduce and increase vaccination, support traditional coping mechanisms, work on tribal conflict prevention and intervene by proper and just livestock marketing. Key w ords: Borana, Leadership, Disaster, Livestock, Pastoralist, Policy DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/10-2-04 Publication date: February 29 th 2020

Indigenous Environmental Knowledge of Borana Pastoralists

Indigenous Environmental Knowledge of Borana Pastoralists

The Dynamics of Gender Relations under Recurrent Drought Conditions: a Study of Borana Pastoralists in Southern Ethiopia

We examine the dynamics of gender relations in terms of changes in gender roles and access to resources under recurrent drought conditions in Borana, Southern Ethiopia, using data from household surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observations. Results show that in traditional Borana society, roles are structured on the basis of gender and age groups with women responsible for activities in and around their dwellings whereas men are responsible for livestock management. However, changes in pastoral production due to recurrent droughts seem to be transforming the gender roles so that women’s workload, areas of decision-making, and income-earning opportunities have increased.

Milk handling practices and consumption behavior among Borana pastoralists in southern Ethiopia

BackgroundSafety and wholesomeness of milk intended for human consumption are influenced by various interlinked factors. However, information on what these factors are, especially in the pastoral traditional communities of Ethiopia, is largely lacking. The objective of this study is to assess the hygienic milk production, processing and consumption practices, and behaviors of Borana pastoralists.MethodsThe study used qualitative participatory research methods. Individual semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, informal discussions, and observations were carried out on (1) milk handling practices, (2) perceptions of quality and safety of milk, including perceived criteria for good milk, (3) awareness of milk-borne diseases, and (4) perception towards milk boiling practices. The interviews and discussions were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by identifying themes.ResultsSome risky behaviors related to milk handling and consumption were identified. These include unhygienic conditions in handling milk and milk products, consumption behaviors such as consuming raw milk purchased from markets, and children directly consuming milk from the udder of animals (e.g., goats). There was a very strong reluctance to boil milk before consumption mainly because of the misconception that nutrients in the milk are destroyed when milk is boiled and “boiled milk is dead”. On the other hand, potential risk mitigation practices were identified such as smoking of milk containers (which may help reduce microbial growth), processing milk through fermentation, consuming milk in boiled tea, and a recent trend towards boiling milk for babies. However, the latter was not motivated by concern over microbial hazards but the belief that raw milk could form curds in children’s stomach which might then suffocate them.ConclusionThe findings highlight the need to promote hygienic handling practices of milk and closely engage with local communities to improve their understanding of milk safety to facilitate change in practices. Educating pastoralists on good milk production practices should be given priority. One of the ways to do this could be by strengthening the integration of milk hygiene in research and development programs as an entry point for behavioral change towards the safe handling and consumption of milk and milk products.

Living with Conflict: Borana's Resilience in Southern Ethiopia

Conflict has become a defining feature of pastoralist frontiers in East Africa since the 1990s. The interplay between multilayered actors and factors and the existence of competing interests in instigating conflicts and in the process of building peace have complicated intergroup relations in the region. The conflicts exhibit the convergence of state and non-state actors and natural as well as human drivers of conflicts. While grappling with traditional as well as emerging forms of conflict, the Borana pastoralist community of southern Ethiopia has devised different strategies of coping with conflict and violence by building on social networks, cultural capital, cross-border identity bonds, and alliances. This article discusses the agency, resilience, and coping mechanisms of the community in the context of conflict and violence by focusing on locally generated knowledge. It argues that conflict and violence build the agency of local communities, create new alliances, re(build) institutions, and reconfigure state-society relations.

Adaptation to climate change using indigenous weather forecasting systems in Borana pastoralists of southern Ethiopia

ABSTRACTIndigenous weather forecasting systems of Borana pastoralists are among the core elements of a Gada system that existed half a million years back and still serving as a powerful natural intelligence on adaptation to climatic hazards. The study was aimed to investigate the types of indigenous weather forecasting systems, mechanisms of climate information exchange, and how traditional forecasts have been integrated with contemporary forecasts to strengthen adaptation to climatic hazards in Borana pastoralists of southern Ethiopia. Conventional survey methods including participatory rural appraisal tools and factorial scoring technique were used for data collection and interpretation. This study indicated that four major indigenous weather forecasting systems were used by Borana pastoralists for centuries. These include Ayantu, Uchu, Waragu, and Arga-Dhageti. They varied in the kind of indicator used to predict weather events. Forecasting was mainly based on observation and unique analysis of celestial bodies, atmospheric variables, and biological features. Respondents indicated that Uchu and Ayantu systems were the most trusted and reliable sources of local climate information. Indigenous and contemporary forecasts are just different and could complement each other. Our results indicated that integrating indigenous and contemporary forecasting systems can foster the prediction efficiency and applicability of climate information. Borana pastoralists had established coping mechanisms that were performed in three phases: pre, during and post occurrence of predicted weather events; mainly aimed at improving their resilience to climatic shocks. Therefore, sustaining such sacred indigenous knowledge bank is vital, as it directly supports community-based disaster risk reduction programmes.