SNNPR Livelihood Profile

Transcription

1 SNNPR Livelihood Profile August Zone Description The is remote, sparsely populated, and food secure. Households keep large herds of livestock, in addition to practising rainfed cultivation. As in the rest of Western SNNPR, rainfall is reliable in this livelihood zone and drought is unknown. The zone includes the whole of Surma woreda and the neighboring areas of Maji and Bero woredas in Bench Maji Administrative Zone. The zone is bordered to the south and west by Sudan, to the north by the Acobo River and Bero woreda, and to the east by Maji woreda. The Surma groups known as Tirma, Chagi and Zilmamo occupy most of the livelihood zone. Neighboring Maji and Bero woredas are settled by the Dizi ethnic group. The Dizi practice mixed farming and are increasingly being pushed to the northeast by the Surma, who raid periodically for livestock and crops. The Surma, in turn are being pushed north and northeast by the Bume, a pastoralist group that straddles the borders between Ethiopia, Sudan and Kenya. Ethnic conflict and insecurity are one of the major hazards affecting the livelihood zone. Altitudes range from lowland (kolla) to dry midland (woina dega). The topography consists of undulating hills and plains that are covered by bush and grassland, with scattered trees. Grazing land is communal and relatively plentiful. The zone has many permanent rivers and seasonal streams. Most of the permanent rivers are located in the north and northeast of the livelihood zone. Households that are settled in these areas do not have to move with their livestock in search of water in the dry season. In contrast, households that are settled in the south and southwest of the livelihood zone move northeast during the dry season in search of water, when the seasonal streams in that area dry up. The Bume ethnic group often raid during this period, when there are large movements of livestock. The zone is agro-pastoral, but the pastoralist way of life is dominant. Households live together and share resources in common. They have significant livestock numbers per household, and livestock sales are the main cash income source for all wealth groups. The types of livestock reared in the zone are cattle and goats. Donkeys, horses and mules are not reared for transport, although the climate is not prohibitive. Items that need transportation (market purchases, for example) are simply carried, despite the long distances involved. There is one long rainy season, from late January to October or November, which households use to cultivate maize, sorghum, sweet potatoes, cassava and beans. Cultivation practices are simple: the land is cleared of bush or crop residues and seeds are scattered. Very little weeding is done and key informants had great difficulty in estimating the size of land that they cultivate. Households obtain their food from market purchase, own crop production and own livestock products (in that order of importance). Livestock provide milk, butter, meat and blood, in addition to being the main source of cash income. Supplementary sources of cash income for all wealth groups are honey and gold sales. Cash crop production and casual work are relatively unknown cash income sources in this livelihood zone. Gold is panned throughout the year both inside the livelihood zone and in four areas of neighboring Bero woreda. A large number of ethnic groups (including those from as far away as Amhara and Tigray) congregate in this area to pan for gold. Security is problematic, so most men and boys travel to these areas in groups. Buyers are ubiquitous and estimating income levels from this source is difficult. 1 Fieldwork for the current profile was undertaken in August The information presented refers to June May 2004 (Sene 1995 to Ginbot 1996 in the Ethiopian calendar), an average year by local standards (i.e. a year of average production and rural food security, when judged in the context of recent years). Provided there are no fundamental and rapid shifts in the economy, the information in this profile is expected to remain valid for approximately five years (i.e. until 2010).

2 Markets Market access is poor. There are no well-developed roads or markets within the livelihood zone. The main markets for the zone are located at Jeba and Maji towns in neighboring Bero and Maji woredas. This is where people from this livelihood zone go to sell livestock and purchase food and other essential items. Traders also purchase livestock within the livelihood zone directly and then take them to Bero or Maji woredas or to Dima (in Gambella Region) for sale. The Surma people try to avoid selling their cattle in order to maintain their herd sizes. When they do sell a mature or old animal, they usually replace it with one or two smaller cattle. The poor state of road infrastructure (only dry-weather roads), combined with scarce transport services, leads to extreme fluctuations in prices seasonally. Particularly during the hunger season, pastoralists face high prices for cereals and obtain low prices for their livestock and livestock products. Seasonal Calendar This livelihood zone has Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec one long rainy season that is relatively reliable. Seasons Crops Rainy season Land preparation for Legend land prep. planting cons. green harvest crops occurs in December - February, Maize Sorghum Haricot beans with planting of maize Cassava and sorghum in January February and March respectively. The green maize harvest starts in June and the dry harvest of both cereal crops occurs in August October. Beans are harvested earlier. Livestock Milk production Livestock migration Livestock sales Other Hunger season Food purchases Mining (gold) Malaria Livestock births are unplanned and can occur Rainfall Pattern at any time of the year. Milk is most available during the wettest months of the year, when pasture is plentiful. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec The hunger or lean period of the year is Source of rainfall data: National Meteorological Service Agency (NMSA) Data Archives (long-term average). determined by the timing of crop production rather than by livestock production and occurs in the months leading up to the green maize harvest, when food is in short supply. Households tend to purchase food during this period, with income from the sale of livestock. Although livestock are sold throughout the year, the main period for livestock sales is December to July, with February May as the peak months for sale. Wild food consumption occurs throughout the year, with households gathering and consuming various wild leaves, seeds and fruits. July August is the time when food is plenty and this is when the Donga games take place. Young men attempt to attract wives with their performances during the games, but a good performance cannot make up for a lack of cattle for a dowry. Malaria is the most problematic human disease in this livelihood zone and can occur throughout the year. It peaks during the wet season. 2

3 3 Wealth Breakdown Wealth in the Surma Agro- Pastoral Livelihood Zone is determined primarily by livestock holdings. Although all livestock used to be owned by the clan leaders, nowadays all households own their own cattle and goats. Other factors, such as the area of land that a household cultivates, are secondary to this. Indeed, key informants were unable to estimate land areas. HH size Compared to many pastoralist areas, the difference in wealth between poor, middle and better off households is relatively narrow in this livelihood zone. This is reflected in their patterns of food and cash income sources, below, which are also quite similar. Polygamy is common amongst better off households in this livelihood zone, reflecting the fact that dowries are paid in cattle. Sources of Food An average year ( ) The graph presents the sources of food for 1 households in the Surma Agro-Pastoral Livelihood Zone for the period June 2003 May 2004, which was an average year % June represented the start of the consumption year because that was when 80% the green maize harvest started, marking the end of the annual hunger season. 60% The contribution of own crop production increased slightly with wealth in the reference year. The main crops produced were maize, sorghum, cassava and beans. The contribution of livestock products (milk, butter, meat and blood) increased with wealth and was large compared to 0% many livelihood zones in SNNPR. Food purchases made a fairly similar contribution across wealth groups. The main foods purchased were maize, sorghum and a local drink made from these cereals. Livestock Poor cattle, goats Middle cattle, goats Better-off cattle, goats 0% 10% 30% 50% % of population Wealth Group Information Food access is expressed as a percentage of minimum food requirements, taken as an average food energy intake of 2100 kcals per person per day. All households collected and consumed wild foods, mainly wild yams, green leaves, seeds and fruits. Their contribution was difficult to quantify. gifts food aid purchase wild food livestock products crops 2 Good years are common in this livelihood zone, so an average year is actually quite good in terms of crop and livestock production.

4 4 Sources of Cash An average year ( ) The graph provides a breakdown of annual cash income according to income source. 100% 80% 60% 0% Annual income (ETB) self-employment honey sales livestock sales l/stock prod. sales crop sales The graph presents the sources of cash income for households in different wealth groups for the period June 2003 May Households in all wealth groups obtained most of their cash income from livestock sales. Better off households typically sold 2-3 cattle, middle households sold 1-2 and poor households sold 1 in the reference year. The number of goats sold was much higher than this, ranging from two to ten animals sold. Livestock prices are high in this livelihood zone compared to the other pastoralist areas of southern SNNPR. Supplementary income sources in the reference year for all wealth groups were honey sales and gold mining. Gold is mined mostly in neighboring Bero woreda and quantifying the cash earned from this source was difficult (and could be higher than indicated). Expenditure Patterns An average year ( ) The graph presents expenditure patterns for different wealth groups in the reference 100% year. Expenditure on staple food decreased with wealth. Although expenditure on the 80% other categories as a proportion of total spending was reasonably similar across the wealth groups, the absolute amounts 60% spent on each category increased with wealth. The category household items included coffee, salt and soap. Other included social obligations, ceremonies, and savings. The category social services included spending on health only. Very 0% few children attended school in this livelihood zone in the reference year. Investment represented the purchase of livestock (particularly heifers). Hazards The graph provides a breakdown of total cash expenditure according to category of expenditure. The main hazards that affect the zone are conflict, livestock diseases and malaria. Conflict occurs in two forms. The Bume raid from the south and loot livestock from the Surma. In turn, Surma youths raid livestock and crops from the neighboring Dizi and Meanit. A climate of insecurity prevails. Livestock diseases (including pasteurolosis, blackleg, rinderpest, CBPP and foot and mouth disease) are a problem in this zone. Pasteurolosis occurs particularly in October December and blackleg during the rainy season. Households obtain drugs either from the government veterinary service in Kibish (the main town of Surma woreda), a missionary group located in Tulgit, or illegally from pastoralists in South Sudan. Malaria during the rainy season is another chronic hazard that affects health and labor availability at household level. Market shocks are a periodic problem, primarily caused by crop failure in neighboring areas, which result in increased cereal prices for pastoralists independent of conditions in the pastoralist livelihood zone. Poor terms of trade (of livestock to cereals) are an annual occurrence during the rainy season, when access to markets is difficult. other clothes social services inputs investment HH items non-staple food staple food

5 5 Response Strategies Households in this livelihood zone have a number of strategies to respond to hazards. The main strategy for obtaining cash to purchase food is increased livestock sales. Obviously, wealthier households are in a better position to exploit this strategy since they own more livestock. All households also have the option of reducing non-essential expenditure on items such as coffee and clothes in order to spend more money on staple food. Households consume more wild foods during bad years. Finally, poor households can seek out increased gifts of food and cash from better off households. The latter is known as yela and anyone who has a problem can expect to receive assistance from relatives or friends. Indicators of Imminent Crisis Season Month Indicator Dry Jan Feb Late onset of rains delays planting Mar Heavy rains encourage weed growth that reduces production --> Apr Heavy rains affect access to markets and terms of trade deteriorate --> May Dry spell reduces production of beans and maize Rainy Jun Delayed green maize harvest season Jul Aug Delayed or reduced harvests in August - October Sep Oct Nov Dry Dec Conflict as a result of raids while moving in search of water The graphic presents the likely sequence of indicators in the lead up to a year of reduced production. There is a wide range of key indicators for the zone, including those related to rainfall, conflict, staple food and livestock prices, and the timing and quantity of harvests.