dc.contributor.author | Kariuki, GK | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-05-30T08:51:50Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-05-30T08:51:50Z | |
dc.date.issued | 1997 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Degree of Master of science in RANGE MANAGEMENT (Resource Management Option) | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/27486 | |
dc.description.abstract | This study was motivated by the fact that natural
resources need to be understood within the context and in
relation to the surrounding socio-economic environment. The
two objectives of the study were firstly to identify the
socio-economic response by nomadic pastoralists to smallholder
irrigation schemes in Isiolo District and secondly to assess
the phytoecology status of the study area. The first
objective was achieved through questionnaires on the farming
objective, phytoecological
populations.
attributes of
For the second
composition
and non-farming pastoral
cover,
and density were assessed using transects and quadrats.
Results from the socio-economic survey showed that the
irrigation schemes had socio-economic impacts on the nomadic
Borana population. Among them were that communal ownership of
grazing land was replaced with individual ownership in areas
that were demarcated into farming plots. This subsequently
excluded livestock from the key dry-season grazing areas,
while heavy concentration of resident livestock herds to
support the settled population led to excessive use of
vegetation due to a round-the-year grazing. Second 1y, ;1abour
engagement in irrigation farming and wage-earning from other
sectors resulted not only in the real location of labour thus
diminishing the labour available for livestock herding but
also introduced a mixed income to the pastoral economy. Lack
of labour or excessive labour requirement was considered the
biggest problem to irrigation farming.
The 0.5 ha plots per households and the food produced on
them were not adequate for household sustenance while
household size analysis showed a higher household size for
farming pastoralists as compared to non-farming ones. Pureherders
devoted most of their family members to livestock
herding, had fewer of their children attending school and
negligible numbers in formal employment. At the same time
monies obtained from farming was inevitably reinvested in
livestock holdings.
Livestock marketing and provision of veterinary services
have improved as a result of improved domestic communication
routes. At the same time dispensaries in the schemes have been
constructed though poorly equipped.
From the phytoecological point of view bushlands occupied
relatively drier areas than woodlands and had very sparse
grass cover. Grassland areas were very limited around the
schemes, but they increased as one moved away from the schemes
with basal cover of key species being less than 35%. As human
settlements were located 2 to 3 km away from the schemes,
there was excessive use of vegetation in these sites, and due
to overgrazing, the vegetation types were interspersed with
areas of bareground prone to severe erosion. There was
therefore a negative correlation between the resultant
settlements and the phytoecological status of the study area.
It was concluded from the study that the emphasis by the
government on smallholder irrigation schemes in nomadic Isiolo
District did not seem justifiable as their potential for
increasing productivity could be outweighed by resulting
severe land degradation. | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.publisher | University of Nairobi | en |
dc.subject | Socio-economic environment | en |
dc.subject | Nomadic Pastoralism | en |
dc.subject | Phytoecological | en |
dc.subject | Irrigation | en |
dc.subject | Sedentarization | en |
dc.subject | Dry-season grazing | en |
dc.subject | Degradation. | en |
dc.title | Socio-economic and phytoecological environment of nomads in smallholder irrigation schemes in Isiolo district, Kenya | en |
dc.type | Thesis | en |
local.publisher | Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi | en |