Addis Ababa, March 21, 2011 (Addis Ababa, ENA) - An international conference under the theme “The Future of Pastoralism in Africa" is underway here on Monday.
Some 90 researches from around the world will converge for critical reflection on the future of pastoralism in Africa and to share new learning from the dynamics of change and innovation happening in pastoralist areas, the conference organizers said.
According to the organizers, the conference will shed new light on longstanding assumptions that pastoralism is in irreversible decline and will highlight the dynamics of change happening in pastoralist areas.
New evidence and analysis of how pastoralists are continuing to adapt to changes in their environment will be presented in the three-day conference.
The policy, legal and aid support required to improve the situation of the most vulnerable pastoralists will be outlined and discussed, they said.
Addressing the conference, Federal Affairs Minister, Dr. Shiferaw Teklemariam said covering 43 percent of the total area of the continent, the pastoralist population in Africa is estimated at 268 million.
He said pastoralism contributes up to 44 percent to gross domestic product of many African countries.
Despite providing such value, pastoralist areas in Africa tend to have the highest incidence of poverty and the least access to basic services, the Minister said.
He said pastoralist communities need more investment in infrastructure which may in turn improve basic services including health, education, communication links, financial and technical support, livestock marketing opportunities, drought and flood mitigation and preparedness system, among others.
As pastoralism is a livelihood for millions of citizens in Ethiopia, pastoral development is one of the main agendas of the government, he said.
Dr. Shiferaw said the pastoralist population constitutes about 11 percent of the total population and covers 61 percent of the total area of the country.
As part of the five-year Growth and Transformation Plan, government has initiated water centered commune program in all pastoralist areas, he said and adding, the plan is to make 200,000 households beneficial from the program, this year alone.
The three-day conference is co-sponsored by the Future Agricultures Consortium and the Feinstein International Center of Tufts University.
Some 90 researches from around the world will converge for critical reflection on the future of pastoralism in Africa and to share new learning from the dynamics of change and innovation happening in pastoralist areas, the conference organizers said.
According to the organizers, the conference will shed new light on longstanding assumptions that pastoralism is in irreversible decline and will highlight the dynamics of change happening in pastoralist areas.
New evidence and analysis of how pastoralists are continuing to adapt to changes in their environment will be presented in the three-day conference.
The policy, legal and aid support required to improve the situation of the most vulnerable pastoralists will be outlined and discussed, they said.
Addressing the conference, Federal Affairs Minister, Dr. Shiferaw Teklemariam said covering 43 percent of the total area of the continent, the pastoralist population in Africa is estimated at 268 million.
He said pastoralism contributes up to 44 percent to gross domestic product of many African countries.
Despite providing such value, pastoralist areas in Africa tend to have the highest incidence of poverty and the least access to basic services, the Minister said.
He said pastoralist communities need more investment in infrastructure which may in turn improve basic services including health, education, communication links, financial and technical support, livestock marketing opportunities, drought and flood mitigation and preparedness system, among others.
As pastoralism is a livelihood for millions of citizens in Ethiopia, pastoral development is one of the main agendas of the government, he said.
Dr. Shiferaw said the pastoralist population constitutes about 11 percent of the total population and covers 61 percent of the total area of the country.
As part of the five-year Growth and Transformation Plan, government has initiated water centered commune program in all pastoralist areas, he said and adding, the plan is to make 200,000 households beneficial from the program, this year alone.
The three-day conference is co-sponsored by the Future Agricultures Consortium and the Feinstein International Center of Tufts University.
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