April 2nd, 2015
Livestock population dynamics and pastoral communities’ adaptation to rainfall variability in Botswana
Published by Pastoralism Journal, December 24th, 2014
In this study in Pastoralism Journal, drought severity and the impact of rainfall variability on livestock population and adaptation practices were investigated in Kgalagadi, Botswana, a district that is vulnerable to recurring mild droughts. The study found that livestock population In Kgalagadi, particularly goats, tend to be positively associated with mean annual precipitation. Pastoral farmers’ adaptation practices include destocking, supplementation and mobility. It was concluded that current grazing policies that promote fencing could therefore increase the pastoral farmers’ vulnerability to droughts, as it limits their mobility.