Pastoralism: Progressing Policies that favour Pastoralists. 8. Livelihood Diversification
Livelihood diversification should go hand in hand with strengthening pastoralism through better markets and links between relief and development
Abstract
Promoting alternative livelihood opportunities for pastoralists, either to replace or complement livestock production, must be central to pastoralist development. But new opportunities will often be highly specific, whether to women or men, to poorer or better-off pastoralists, or to different locations, market opportunities and institutional contexts.
Population growth and the weakening of traditional pastoralism by adverse policies make it essential to find other income sources for pastoralists, either in rangelands or in more distant areas. Such a view acknowledges the pressures on pastoralism, but does not imply a belief that pastoral livestock production is in itself unsustainable.
The search for livelihood diversification should go hand in hand with strengthening pastoralism through improved markets, governance and better links between relief and development.
This briefing was based on a series of 8 Pastoralism Information Notes produced under the overall supervision of John Morton of the Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich. Each briefing presents the context, policy implications, ways forward and evidence of change.
Citation
WRENmedia, Eye, UK, 2 pp.
Links
(PDF, 1038KB)