Effects of drought on livestock production, market dynamics, and pastoralists’ adaptation strategies in semi-arid Ethiopia
Extreme climate events are increasing in severity and frequency and affecting the livelihood of pastoralists. Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing effective management strategies. Thus, this study examines the effects of drought on livestock production and market dynamics in semi-ar...
| Autores principales: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
MDPI
2025
|
| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173999 |
| _version_ | 1855530590479056896 |
|---|---|
| author | Dejene, Sintayehu Workeneh Alemayehu, Sintayehu Terefe, Tadesse Tegegne, Getachew Engdaw, Mastawesha Misganaw Gebre, Liyuneh Tesfaye, Lidya Doyo, Jaldesa Reddy R., Uttama Girvetz, Evan |
| author_browse | Alemayehu, Sintayehu Dejene, Sintayehu Workeneh Doyo, Jaldesa Engdaw, Mastawesha Misganaw Gebre, Liyuneh Girvetz, Evan Reddy R., Uttama Tegegne, Getachew Terefe, Tadesse Tesfaye, Lidya |
| author_facet | Dejene, Sintayehu Workeneh Alemayehu, Sintayehu Terefe, Tadesse Tegegne, Getachew Engdaw, Mastawesha Misganaw Gebre, Liyuneh Tesfaye, Lidya Doyo, Jaldesa Reddy R., Uttama Girvetz, Evan |
| author_sort | Dejene, Sintayehu Workeneh |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Extreme climate events are increasing in severity and frequency and affecting the livelihood of pastoralists. Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing effective management strategies. Thus, this study examines the effects of drought on livestock production and market dynamics in semi-arid Ethiopia and explores the adaptation strategies employed by Borana pastoralists. Both the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) were used to calculate indicators of drought severity between 1993 and 2022. Surveys were also conducted in 244 selected households. In addition, focus group discussions and field observations were conducted to investigate the adaptation practices of Borana pastoralists to drought. A line graph was used to illustrate the relationship between the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and livestock market prices. The study found extreme drought in 1985, 2000, and 2011, with the most severe to moderate dryness occurring in the Arero, Elwaya, Dubuluk, Guchi, and Yabelo areas. The study found that severe droughts are increasing, affecting pastoralists’ livelihoods. The recurring drought led to a shortage of feed and water, which resulted in the starvation and death of livestock and jeopardized the livelihoods of pastoralists. In addition, the decline in milk production and falling market prices are said to have had a negative impact. Diversification of livelihood sources, mobility of livestock to seek out forage and water resources, and diversification of herd composition to take advantage of varying drought tolerance have been the usual long-term adaptation strategies of Borana pastoralists. Given the multiple negative impacts of climate change, development interventions in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of Ethiopia should focus on proactive measures to reduce the impacts of climate change on livestock production. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace173999 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | MDPI |
| publisherStr | MDPI |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1739992025-12-08T10:29:22Z Effects of drought on livestock production, market dynamics, and pastoralists’ adaptation strategies in semi-arid Ethiopia Dejene, Sintayehu Workeneh Alemayehu, Sintayehu Terefe, Tadesse Tegegne, Getachew Engdaw, Mastawesha Misganaw Gebre, Liyuneh Tesfaye, Lidya Doyo, Jaldesa Reddy R., Uttama Girvetz, Evan climate change markets livelihoods adaptation livestock production drought pastoralists Extreme climate events are increasing in severity and frequency and affecting the livelihood of pastoralists. Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing effective management strategies. Thus, this study examines the effects of drought on livestock production and market dynamics in semi-arid Ethiopia and explores the adaptation strategies employed by Borana pastoralists. Both the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) were used to calculate indicators of drought severity between 1993 and 2022. Surveys were also conducted in 244 selected households. In addition, focus group discussions and field observations were conducted to investigate the adaptation practices of Borana pastoralists to drought. A line graph was used to illustrate the relationship between the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and livestock market prices. The study found extreme drought in 1985, 2000, and 2011, with the most severe to moderate dryness occurring in the Arero, Elwaya, Dubuluk, Guchi, and Yabelo areas. The study found that severe droughts are increasing, affecting pastoralists’ livelihoods. The recurring drought led to a shortage of feed and water, which resulted in the starvation and death of livestock and jeopardized the livelihoods of pastoralists. In addition, the decline in milk production and falling market prices are said to have had a negative impact. Diversification of livelihood sources, mobility of livestock to seek out forage and water resources, and diversification of herd composition to take advantage of varying drought tolerance have been the usual long-term adaptation strategies of Borana pastoralists. Given the multiple negative impacts of climate change, development interventions in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of Ethiopia should focus on proactive measures to reduce the impacts of climate change on livestock production. 2025-03-24 2025-04-03T08:50:45Z 2025-04-03T08:50:45Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173999 en Open Access application/pdf MDPI Dejene, S.W.; Alemayehu, S.; Terefe, T.; Tegegne, G.; Engdaw, M.M.; Gebre, L.; Tesfaye, L.; Doyo, J.; Reddy R., U.; Girvetz, E. (2025) Effects of drought on livestock production, market dynamics, and pastoralists’ adaptation strategies in semi-arid Ethiopia. Climate 13(4): 65. ISSN: 2225-1154 |
| spellingShingle | climate change markets livelihoods adaptation livestock production drought pastoralists Dejene, Sintayehu Workeneh Alemayehu, Sintayehu Terefe, Tadesse Tegegne, Getachew Engdaw, Mastawesha Misganaw Gebre, Liyuneh Tesfaye, Lidya Doyo, Jaldesa Reddy R., Uttama Girvetz, Evan Effects of drought on livestock production, market dynamics, and pastoralists’ adaptation strategies in semi-arid Ethiopia |
| title | Effects of drought on livestock production, market dynamics, and pastoralists’ adaptation strategies in semi-arid Ethiopia |
| title_full | Effects of drought on livestock production, market dynamics, and pastoralists’ adaptation strategies in semi-arid Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Effects of drought on livestock production, market dynamics, and pastoralists’ adaptation strategies in semi-arid Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of drought on livestock production, market dynamics, and pastoralists’ adaptation strategies in semi-arid Ethiopia |
| title_short | Effects of drought on livestock production, market dynamics, and pastoralists’ adaptation strategies in semi-arid Ethiopia |
| title_sort | effects of drought on livestock production market dynamics and pastoralists adaptation strategies in semi arid ethiopia |
| topic | climate change markets livelihoods adaptation livestock production drought pastoralists |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173999 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dejenesintayehuworkeneh effectsofdroughtonlivestockproductionmarketdynamicsandpastoralistsadaptationstrategiesinsemiaridethiopia AT alemayehusintayehu effectsofdroughtonlivestockproductionmarketdynamicsandpastoralistsadaptationstrategiesinsemiaridethiopia AT terefetadesse effectsofdroughtonlivestockproductionmarketdynamicsandpastoralistsadaptationstrategiesinsemiaridethiopia AT tegegnegetachew effectsofdroughtonlivestockproductionmarketdynamicsandpastoralistsadaptationstrategiesinsemiaridethiopia AT engdawmastaweshamisganaw effectsofdroughtonlivestockproductionmarketdynamicsandpastoralistsadaptationstrategiesinsemiaridethiopia AT gebreliyuneh effectsofdroughtonlivestockproductionmarketdynamicsandpastoralistsadaptationstrategiesinsemiaridethiopia AT tesfayelidya effectsofdroughtonlivestockproductionmarketdynamicsandpastoralistsadaptationstrategiesinsemiaridethiopia AT doyojaldesa effectsofdroughtonlivestockproductionmarketdynamicsandpastoralistsadaptationstrategiesinsemiaridethiopia AT reddyruttama effectsofdroughtonlivestockproductionmarketdynamicsandpastoralistsadaptationstrategiesinsemiaridethiopia AT girvetzevan effectsofdroughtonlivestockproductionmarketdynamicsandpastoralistsadaptationstrategiesinsemiaridethiopia |