ABSTRACT
Analysis of the sociological dimensions of African pastoralism is a formidable task. The regional differences in Africa's pastoral production systems--for example, between southern African pastoralism and Sahelian pastoralism--make general statements and models problematic. The term socio-economics is used to explicity emphasize the interconnectedness of sociological and economic variables in the African pastoral contextthus the blurry distinction between sociological and economic factors. The political and macro-economic environment that the systems operate within also varies considerably according to political and geographical boundaries. The economic trend in Baringo over the last several years has been toward increased diversification, and the project's emphasis on cropping was well timed. Pastoral areas where the regional framework proves most useful are in areas of regional economic diversification. Predominant intra-regional linkages likely are to be in trade, particularly in livestock and grain. The socio-economic research noted should be carried out in conjunction with ecological and animal science research.
