| Source(s) of technologies or funding: | ACSAD, GTZ, MAR |
| Target group(s): | Policy-makers, researchers, national and international development institutions, and producers |
| Production system(s) and enterprises: | Animal production systems in rangelands and marginal areas |
| Agro-ecological zones: | Arid and semi-arid zones (100–350 mm) |
| Target region and countries: | Rangelands and marginal zones (east of the Mediterranean; North Africa; Sudan; Somalia; Arabian Peninsula) |
| Keywords: | drought; animal production |
Drought is a temporary or prolonged shortage of rainfall in a geographical region. Seasonal or annual drought spells, which are common in arid and semi-arid zones, can have serious impacts on natural rangelands, and consequently on livestock. With decreased rangeland resources, livestock is more vulnerable to drought.
At the community level, drought causes loss of crops and livestock, and, in severe cases, leads to chronic food shortages and famines. Migration of rural people from drought-stricken areas to cities, in search of food and employment, add to pressure on urban resources, causing new social problems.
Many drought mitigation measures are available. These measures should be integrated in a solid and well defined strategy that aims to mitigate the severe impacts of drought spells. Elements in such a strategy would include (among others):
- climatic prediction and early warning systems;
- improved management of livestock and rangelands;
- development and sustainable management of natural rangelands;
- improved utilization of crop residues and new feed resources;
- insurance and establishment of emergency funds;
- use of the most adapted animal species and breeds; and
- capacity building.
Drought is a temporary departure from normal rainfall in a geographical region, and aridity is a consequence of permanent rainfall deficit. One characteristic of drought in many areas is the lack of predictable periodic behaviour. The occurrence of drought varies with location and time. Rainfall in dry lands is usually erratic and variable between and within years. Typical deviations from the long-term annual means are between 30 to 50% in areas of 100 to 400 mm annual rainfall.
Overgrazing may over a period of less than 10 years reduce the annual productivity of degraded rangelands from around 100 to 30 kg/ha of dry matter. Overgrazing not only reduces the protective ground cover but also reduces plant diversity and consequently the dry matter available from range plants.
One of the shortcomings of drought-management programmes is the separation between technology policy and institutional options.
Improved management of rangelands
The areas lying below the 200 mm precipitation isohyetal are particularly
vulnerable to drought and are often threatened by desertification. However,
the high demand for feed for expanding livestock populations has increased
the pressure on these traditional sources of feed, leading to their deterioration.
Movements of livestock within the rangelands in the past were regulated
by seasonal availability of water and forage. Today, however, use of vehicles
for transporting water to herds and for moving animals to new pastures
fosters prolonged grazing on rangelands and uncontrolled movement of herds.
Thus, early grazing and overgrazing are common. Palatable species are
not allowed time to regenerate.
Seasonal and annual droughts, common in most arid and semi-arid zones,
can have a serious impact on rangelands under these circumstances. Herbage
quality and quantity, affected by the fluctuations of rainfall, vary considerably
over time, and the regeneration of grazed vegetation is strongly hampered
after extended periods of drought.
Appropriate use of rangelands to minimize the risks associated with drought must focus on three components: protection, rehabilitation, and proper management.
Livestock feed resources
The effects of drought on livestock and rangelands are linked. With
decreased range resources, livestock are more vulnerable to drought. The
current livestock population can no longer be maintained on natural rangelands
throughout the year. This results in a chronic inadequate feed supply
for livestock, with dramatic consequences in dry years.
Alternative sources of feed must be found to supplement feed resources
from natural pastures and rangelands, particularly in periods of drought,
when major efforts should be devoted to the development of the livestock
feed base. Further efforts have to be focused on the promotion of storable-forage
production on arable land, particularly by including high quality fodder
crops into rotations. Local forage and pasture species and ecotypes, which
have developed characters to cope with erratic rainfall, must be given
priority. In addition, the possibility of using non-conventional water
resources to irrigate forage has proved to be practical.
Moreover, considerable amounts of crop residues and agro-industrial by-products are available in the region, and could be used for animal feeding.
Breed characterization
Optimization of the use of available breeds of drought-tolerant camels, sheep and goats is an important component of drought mitigation strategies. In order to optimize the use of range and feed resources, breed characterization and gene identification for digestive and nutritional adaptive abilities of ruminants allows the development of breeds for more efficient use of limited vegetation in drought-prone areas. Topics to be investigated include rumen characteristics and physiology, cellulolytic rumen ecosystems, tolerance to shrub tannins and anti-nutritional factors, nitrogen recycling, and water turnover. If aiming at higher productivity in livestock production, breed characterization to optimize the use of feed resources will reduce farmers’ risk associated with drought, and protect range resources from degradation by a better adjustment of flock sizes to rangeland carrying capacity.
Improved access to drought forecast and monitoring information
Farmers, herders and other stakeholders have to commit resources each
year before the commencement the growing season. The availability of early
warning drought forecasts would be a powerful tool for avoiding many of
the economic costs associated with the misallocation of resources, particularly
if operating in combination with a well functioning adaptable farming
system.
Reliable drought forecasts could also enable governments and relief agencies to position themselves each year for more effective and cost-efficient drought interventions.
It is therefore important to develop drought forecast and monitoring information systems that all stakeholders involved in drought preparedness can easily access.
Institutional strengthening and capacity building
Institutional collaboration
It is necessary to establish an effective partnership of institutions – local, national, regional, international and non-governmental – working on drought-related issues, in order to achieve improved drought preparedness and effective mitigation of drought effects. Enhanced interaction among all such institutions, integrating all the efforts invested, should help avoid duplication of efforts at a regional level, and allow for a task-sharing approach in tackling the effects of drought.
Capacity building and training
The overall success of drought-management programmes depends on the institutions involved in the monitoring of drought and in their capacity to design and develop policy, technical and institutional options for drought-prone areas. Most countries are already building their capacity to monitor and forecast climatic changes, but there is need to strengthen linkages between monitoring and forecasting (early-warning systems) and assessment of the resource base so as to target interventions and strategies. Capabilities differ, and the proposed programme could provide complementarity of efforts for the greater benefit of the region.
Establishment of emergency funds
It is suggested that Emergency funds be established by herders and farmers through their associations or societies in order to help them sustain their main stocks and buy the necessary feedstuffs and medications at the proper time(s).
