The study was undertaken in the northern periphery of the country, Tigray region, north-west Tigray zone, Tahitay Adiyabo district from February to March, 2017. For this study , four Kebeles were selected purposively based on the presence of two major community groups (Tigrayans and Kunama) and presence of camel species and other livestock species. Seventy-two (72) households per district , of which 38 households from two kebeles for Kunama community and 34 households from two kebeles for Tigrayan community groups were selected randomly. A software package of SAS (2008) was employed to generate descriptive statistics for qualitative and quantitative data. As the study revealed , three-fifth and two-fifth of the respondents in the study area were illiterate and attend ed primary education respectively. The two community groups were significantly (P < 0.05) different on educational status and Tigriyans respondents were more educated than the other counterpart. More than 2/3 children (7 - 17 years of age) of the respondents in the study area were attended school. Exceptionally , more than 75% of the children for Tigriyan community group in the district were attended school whereas 3/5th of Kunama community children were attended school education. Average family size per household in the study area was 6.22 ± 0.45 and significant (P < 0.05) difference was observed in the two community groups which was higher in Tigriyan community (7.23). Livestock husbandry practices (breeding objectives, herding, milking and marketing) were decided entirely by husband or both and the decision by wife alone was reported to be non-existent in the study area. From all respondents of Kunama community, more than a quarter of them produce household income majorly from their livestock and secondarily from crop. Livelihood diversification (off-farm activities) was almost non-existent in the study area. The study shows that majority of the respondents own ruminant animals and camel. Surprisingly , in the current study , all of the respondents own camel species but camel milk marketing was the main problem of Kunama community. From the Kunama community group , quarter of the respondents own camel and goat only. This study suggested that attention should be given for child education in Kunama community and absence of camel milk marketing may affect the utilization of the species and as a consequence , it would extinct. Hence, in order to conserve this species, camel milk market problem should be solved. Besides, in the study area , camel is the important species for all the communities and attention should be given to improve camel productivity.
In Ethiopia, the lowland areas are relatively poorly served in terms of infrastructure and public services such as roads and veterinary services, which may exacerbate livestock morbidity and mortality [
Both men and women have vital roles in the continuation and adaptation of pastoral and mixed farming systems. Women play pivotal role as livestock herders, natural resource managers, income generators, and service providers, but all of these tasks by themselves are influenced by gendered norms, values, and relations [
The study area, north-western Tigray is known with vulnerability to drought, high food insecurity, livestock feed constraints and poor animal health services [
In this regard, a wide range of studies [
The study was undertaken in 2017 (February-March) in the northern periphery of the country, Tigray region, north-west Tigray zone, Tahitay Adiyabo district (
precipitation of about 600 mm [
For this study the two major community groups (Tigrayans and Kunama) in the district were participated. The study district was purposively selected based on the presence of camel species (camel is found in few district in the northern part of Ethiopia) and different community groups. From a total of eight (8) kebeles (the lower administrative unit in the country) in the countryside of the district in which both communities live together, four (4) kebeles (two from each community were purposively selected. The sample size for the questionnaire based survey was calculated using the statistical formula, n = N/1 + N[e]2 where, n = number of study subjects (household heads) enrolled in the study, N=total population of the study districts, e = acceptable error for questionnaire based survey (5%) [
Data collections were conducted using semi-structured questionnaire by trained enumerators speaking the local languages. One group discussion per site/kebele was held with the group discussants that consist of elders, development agents and community leaders. Data on camel and livestock management practices in relation to men and women participation, household and children school attendance, decision by men and women on work share in different livestock activities, camel herd composition per household and importance of camel and other livestock species for the household were collected.
Software packages of [
Head of the households participated in this study is shown in
District | Variable | N | % |
---|---|---|---|
TA | Household head participated | 72 | |
Husband | 50 | 69.44 | |
Wife | 22 | 30.56 | |
Ethnic groups in the district | N | % | |
Variable | |||
Kunama | Household head participated | 38 | |
Husband | 26 | 68.42 | |
Wife | 12 | 31.58 | |
Tigrai | Household head participated | 34 | |
Husband | 24 | 70.59 | |
Wife | 10 | 29.41 |
Educational background of the respondents in the study area and the community groups are shown in
Considering the communities, Tigriyan community group exhibited three-fifth (3/5) of the respondents as literate which was higher than the Kunama community. The possible reasons for the higher percentage of literate respondents in Tigriyan community may be due to their understanding about the importance of education. However, the relatively higher level of illiteracy in the Kunama community can pose serious problem in the delivery of modern technologies to improve livestock production as well as it impair record keeping through writing. Besides, the high illiteracy in Kunama community may affect their competency with the contemporary community group in modern animal husbandry practices. In this regard, study [
The result of the current study on average illiteracy (58%) was higher than the study [
Region and Zone | District | Variable | N | % |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tigray, North west | Tahtay Adiyabo | Educational status of head of the household | 72 | |
Illiterate | 42 | 58.33 | ||
Primary education | 30 | 41.67 | ||
Ethnic groups in the district | ||||
Kunama | Variable | N | % | |
Educational status of head of the household | 38 | |||
Illiterate | 28 | 73.68 | ||
Primary education | 10 | 26.32 | ||
Tigrai | Variable | N | % | |
Educational status of head of the household | 34 | |||
Illiterate | 14 | 41.18 | ||
Primary education | 20 | 58.82 |
zone. In community groups, the illiteracy level of Tigray group was similar with the study [
More than 2/3 children of the respondents whose age between seven and fifteen in the study areas were attended school (this data is for those children whose age was within the age described school age in Ethiopia) (
Hence, the higher percentage of children not attending school in the current study may be related with the above mentioned factors. The result of this study for school attendance of Tigrayans children was higher than most areas of the country which are far from the capital of the country.
District | Variable | N | % |
---|---|---|---|
Tahtay Adiyabo | Children school attendance | 72 | |
All attended | 48 | 66.67 | |
Not attended | 14 | 19.44 | |
Some attended | 10 | 13.89 | |
Ethnic groups in the district | |||
Variable | N | % | |
Kunama | Children school attendance | 38 | |
All attended | 22 | 57.90 | |
Not attended | 9 | 23.68 | |
Some attended | 7 | 18.42 | |
Tigrai | Children school attendance | 34 | |
All attended | 26 | 76.47 | |
Not attended | 4 | 11.76 | |
Some attended | 4 | 11.76 |
As indicated in
From the two communities, Kunama community was lower in average family size per household and significantly (P < 0.05) different from Tigrai community in the same district. The result of this study on the family size of Kunama community was consistent with the study [
District | N | Variables | Mean ± SE | Minimum | Maximum | CV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tahitay Adiyabo | 72 | Age | 45.80 ± 1.97 | 25.00 | 78.00 | 25.85 |
Family size | 6.22 ± 0.45 | 1.00 | 10.00 | 43.99 | ||
Community groups in the district | ||||||
Community groups in the district | N | Variables | Mean ± SE | Minimum | Maximum | CV |
Kunama | 38 | Family size | 5.31a ± 0.59 | 1.00 | 9.00 | 48.99 |
Tigrai | 34 | Family size | 7.23b ± 0.62 | 3.00 | 10.00 | 35.75 |
Kunama | 38 | Age | 44.84 ± 2.75 | 30.00 | 78.00 | 26.73 |
Tigrai | 34 | Age | 46.88 ± 2.89 | 25.00 | 60.00 | 25.48 |
*Means with different superscript are significantly different. P value at 95%.
at least to the national level in the study area. The current study result was contrary with the study [
Decision about marketed live animal, livestock by-products and camel, breeding objective and scale of operation varies between community groups in the same district (
District | Variable | N | % |
---|---|---|---|
Thatay Adiyabo | Decision | 72 | |
Women | 2 | 2.78 | |
Men | 36 | 50.00 | |
Both | 34 | 47.22 | |
Community groups in the district | |||
Variable | N | % | |
Kunama | 38 | ||
Decision | |||
Women | 2 | 5.27 | |
Men | 22 | 57.89 | |
Both | 14 | 36.84 | |
Tigrai | 34 | ||
Decision | |||
Men | 14 | 41.18 | |
Both | 20 | 58.82 |
Even though the participation of female alone in the decision making of livestock activities were not existed in this study area, the decision together with her husband may be related with sedenterization of the communities which brought livestock as individual properties. In the contrary in pastoral areas the impact of elders on the community to rule and define the implementation on communal resources, especially in livestock are immense, which hinder the participation of female. In this regard, the study [
Majority of the work share in the respondents household of the study area on livestock husbandry practices was undertaken by husband and in a quarter of respondents wife also participated (
District | Variable | N | % |
---|---|---|---|
Thatay Adiyabo | Work Share in the household for livestock husbandry practices | 72 | |
Women | 2 | 2.78 | |
Men | 47 | 65.28 | |
Both husband and wife | 18 | 25.00 | |
Male < 15 years of age | 5 | 6.94 | |
Community groups in the district | |||
Variable | % | ||
Kunama | Work Share in the household for livestock husbandry practices | 38 | |
Women | 3 | 7.90 | |
Men | 29 | 76.32 | |
Both husband and wife | 2 | 5.26 | |
Male < 15 years of age | 4 | 10.52 | |
Tigrai | Work Share in the household for livestock husbandry practices | 34 | |
Men | 14 | 50.00 | |
Both husband and wife | 14 | 50.00 |
the parents for their children. Whereas, in Kunama community group more than 3/4th of husband were undertaken every activities of livestock management practices. The result of this study on Kunama community group was consistent with the study of [
As the study shows the source of household income for majority of the respondents were from crop production followed by livestock (
District | Variable | N | % |
---|---|---|---|
TA | Source of income for the households | 72 | |
Crop as first and livestock secondary source of income | 62 | 86.11 | |
Livestock as first and crop secondary source of income | 8 | 11.11 | |
Livestock as first and Trade secondary source of income | 2 | 2.78 | |
Community groups in the district | |||
Variable | % | ||
Kunama | Source of income for the households | 38 | |
Crop as first and livestock secondary source of income | 28 | 73.68 | |
Livestock as first and crop secondary source of income | 8 | 21.05 | |
Livestock as first and Trade secondary source of income | 2 | 5.27 | |
Tigrai | Source of income for the households | 34 | |
Crop | 34 | 100 |
camel as live animal. Few of the respondents (4-6) produced immediate household income from non-farm activity (trade) as a third option. However, for the three-fourth of the respondents in Kunama community group, crop was the major source of income. The contribution of livestock as an immediate source of income for these respondents was 40% on average per household.
The Tigriyans community group produces their household income totally from crop. The major crop used by the households for their immediate household income was sesame. The income from livestock was produced to buy cloth annually for the family, buy agricultural inputs (fertilizer and others) and fulfill the requirement used for different religious and cultural ceremonies.
Even though the study area was characterized as semi-arid environment, there was few respondents produced non-farm income for their households, which was not a common practice with this kind of unsuitable environment for agriculture. In support of this, studies [
In general, livelihood diversification in rural area is an important strategy to survive and accumulate asset. However, there are several constraints that determine the pastoral and agro-pastoral society to engage in successful livelihood diversification. The major constraints to livelihood diversification in various areas includes poor asset base, lack of financial facilities, lack of awareness, lack of rural infrastructure, and lack of opportunities in different activities [
Hence, absence of non-farm income in the current study area may be related with high percentage of illiterate, lack of awareness, lack of rural infrastructure and lack of opportunities in different activities. Earlier study [
The study shows that majority of the respondents own ruminant animals and camel (
District | Variable | N | % |
---|---|---|---|
TA | Livestock species composition per household | 72 | |
Camel and cattle | 12 | 16.67 | |
Camel, cattle, sheep and goat | 40 | 55.56 | |
Camel, cattle, sheep, goat and others | 10 | 13.89 | |
Camel only | 6 | 8.33 | |
Camel and goat | 4 | 5.56 | |
Community groups in the district | |||
Variable | N | % | |
Kunama | Livestock species composition per household | 38 | |
Camel and cattle | 6 | 15.79 | |
Camel, cattle, sheep and goat | 16 | 42.11 | |
Camel, cattle, sheep, goat and others | 6 | 15.79 | |
Camel only | 6 | 15.79 | |
Camel and goat | 4 | 10.53 | |
Tigrai | Livestock species composition per household | 34 | |
Camel and cattle | 6 | 17.65 | |
Camel, cattle, sheep and goat | 24 | 70.59 | |
Camel, cattle, sheep, goat and others | 4 | 11.76 |
Besides, the other reasons to own camel by all of the respondents may be due to adaptive character of camel for the harsh environment of the study area. From the Kunama community group quarter of the respondents own camel and goat only.
The study revealed that female camel with calves and matured male with matured female camels constitute the major camel herd composition in the study area (
Oil milling with male camel was the common practices in the study area which are not practiced in the Somali and Afar pastoral communities. This study result was similar with the study [
District | Variable | N | % |
---|---|---|---|
TA | Camel herd composition | 72 | |
Matured pregnant female camel | 12 | 16.67 | |
Male and female camel | 18 | 25.00 | |
All group of camel | 20 | 27.78 | |
Female camel with calve | 22 | 30.56 | |
Ethnic groups in the district | |||
Variable | N | % | |
Kunama | Camel herd composition | 38 | |
Matured pregnant female camels | 10 | 26.32 | |
Breeding male and female camels | 4 | 10.53 | |
All group of camels | 10 | 26.31 | |
Female camel with calve | 14 | 36.84 | |
Tigriyans | Camel herd composition | 34 | |
Matured female camel | 2 | 5.88 | |
Breeding male and female camel | 14 | 41.18 | |
All group of camel | 10 | 29.41 | |
Female camel with calve | 8 | 23.53 |
ride and use as work animals in mills and for ploughing. Based on the group discussion with Kunama community group, on average a Barka camel (camel owned by Kunama community group) produced 6 litters at the beginning and mid lactation and 3 - 4 liters at the end of lactation. But their main problem was milk marketing in the district. As the key informants explained, due to the culture and religion of majority of the community in the district (Tigriyans), drinking camel milk was forbidden by the Tigriyans community group and this create market problem for camel milk. With regard to market problem, study [
Higher illiteracy was the major feature of the respondents and their children in Kunama community which hinder adoption of technology in livestock husbandry practices. The average family size per-household was higher in both communities in comparison to the national average and this may be useful to get labor in livestock husbandry practices, but the large family size may have a negative consequence on the living standard of the respondents. All decisions on livestock management practices were done by husband or both (husband and wife) and this may be due to the dominancy and livestock ownership of the husband. For quarter of the respondents in Kunama community, livestock was the major source of household income. Diversifications of household income like off-farm activities were almost nonexistent in the study area which could support the household income in this semi-arid environment. All of the respondents in the study area own camel species but camel milk marketing was their major problem. Hence, this study suggested that illiteracy of the respondents should be improved and attention should be given for family size per household and child education in Kunama community. Besides, livestock species could not be conserved without utilization. Transportation and oil extraction using camel could be substituted by modern technology and this may be a treat for the survival of the species in the community. Therefore, camel milk marketing problem should be solved either by transporting to larger cities in the country and improvement of camel productivity by selection and conservation of Kunama camel should be undertaken.
This work was supported by EIAR (Ethiopian institute of Agricultural Research). I thank the organization for the grant. I thank employees of Regional Agricultural Bureaus and Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research in Tigray, the communities in the district for the unreserved cooperation and assistance during data collection.
The author declares no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.
Tadesse, Y. (2019) Socioeconomic Characteristics of the Community and Importance of Camel and other Livestock Species in Tahitay-Adiyabo District, Tigray Region in the Northern Periphery of Ethiopia. Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 9, 217-233. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojas.2019.92019