Food security and sustainable growth for pastoral systems in semi-arid Africa

This paper explores the potential for, and limits to, sustainable agricultural growth in semi-arid Africa, with a focus on the role of pastoralism. Examines the main pressures on pastoral systems, and on the resource base upon which these depend. The paper argues that it is premature to contemplate...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Webb, P., Bisrat, G., Coppock, D. Layne
Formato: Conference Paper
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: German Foundation for International Development 1991
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/50561
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author Webb, P.
Bisrat, G.
Coppock, D. Layne
author_browse Bisrat, G.
Coppock, D. Layne
Webb, P.
author_facet Webb, P.
Bisrat, G.
Coppock, D. Layne
author_sort Webb, P.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper explores the potential for, and limits to, sustainable agricultural growth in semi-arid Africa, with a focus on the role of pastoralism. Examines the main pressures on pastoral systems, and on the resource base upon which these depend. The paper argues that it is premature to contemplate sustainable growth until current trends in both human and biological resource degradation have been halted and reversed. Following an outline of concepts, the key features of African pastoralism are described. The third section of the paper examines the constraints on such systems, highlighting linkages between pressures on pastoralism and those on the pastoral resource base. Major strategies adopted by pastoralists in the face of increasing pressures are summarized in the fourth section. Finally, two major conclusions deriving from the analysis are presented, and these are 1. A new focus is needed on increasing inputs to pastoralism rather than on outputs, and 2. Sucess in reducing economic and environmental losses can only be sustained with a parallel reduction in the loss of human resources.
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spelling CGSpace505612024-03-06T10:16:43Z Food security and sustainable growth for pastoral systems in semi-arid Africa Webb, P. Bisrat, G. Coppock, D. Layne semiarid zones pastoralism food supply economic growth pastoral economy poverty drought policies technology management land use This paper explores the potential for, and limits to, sustainable agricultural growth in semi-arid Africa, with a focus on the role of pastoralism. Examines the main pressures on pastoral systems, and on the resource base upon which these depend. The paper argues that it is premature to contemplate sustainable growth until current trends in both human and biological resource degradation have been halted and reversed. Following an outline of concepts, the key features of African pastoralism are described. The third section of the paper examines the constraints on such systems, highlighting linkages between pressures on pastoralism and those on the pastoral resource base. Major strategies adopted by pastoralists in the face of increasing pressures are summarized in the fourth section. Finally, two major conclusions deriving from the analysis are presented, and these are 1. A new focus is needed on increasing inputs to pastoralism rather than on outputs, and 2. Sucess in reducing economic and environmental losses can only be sustained with a parallel reduction in the loss of human resources. 1991 2014-10-31T06:09:23Z 2014-10-31T06:09:23Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/50561 en Limited Access German Foundation for International Development
spellingShingle semiarid zones
pastoralism
food supply
economic growth
pastoral economy
poverty
drought
policies
technology
management
land use
Webb, P.
Bisrat, G.
Coppock, D. Layne
Food security and sustainable growth for pastoral systems in semi-arid Africa
title Food security and sustainable growth for pastoral systems in semi-arid Africa
title_full Food security and sustainable growth for pastoral systems in semi-arid Africa
title_fullStr Food security and sustainable growth for pastoral systems in semi-arid Africa
title_full_unstemmed Food security and sustainable growth for pastoral systems in semi-arid Africa
title_short Food security and sustainable growth for pastoral systems in semi-arid Africa
title_sort food security and sustainable growth for pastoral systems in semi arid africa
topic semiarid zones
pastoralism
food supply
economic growth
pastoral economy
poverty
drought
policies
technology
management
land use
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/50561
work_keys_str_mv AT webbp foodsecurityandsustainablegrowthforpastoralsystemsinsemiaridafrica
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