ABSTRACT
This chapter explains pastoralism, which describes production systems based on the use of extensive grazing on communal rangelands for livestock production. It begins with an outline of pastoral livelihoods and continues with an analysis of the impact of drought on markets, and the associated response of pastoralists to both markets and drought risk. The chapter explains the different income generating strategies and production objectives of pastoralists in Sub-Saharan Africa, that have evolved with increasing commercialization, in order to understand the pastoralists response to markets. It shows the manifold reasons why pastoralists might opt not to follow market incentives to sell livestock, but rather follow a strategy of herd expansion. The chapter describes the impact of drought on markets and the detrimental effects of commercialization on traditional strategies. The adaptation of traditional strategies to current contexts needs to be acknowledged and supported, and it debates the opportunities of technologies such as Early Warning Systems and gives examples of market focused interventions.
