Pastoralism ...

Pastoralism is now virtually non-existent north of the 200mm isohyet (rainfall line). The drought years have ruined much of the grazing land, and because so many men have left the area there is insufficient manpower to draw up water from the wells. From Mauritania to Chad only about two or three million herdsmen are left. Some have now specialized in sheep (the pastoralists of the Niger loop, for example) or in goats (as with the Mauritanians), or in poultry, as have those within reach of the towns. As long as the exodus from the land goes on and manpower is short, pastoralism is unlikely to grow. The management of grazing land is thus no longer a crucial matter. Between the 200 and 500mm isohyets, pastoral ism is holding its own despite the severely damaged environment. The migration of the herds southwards during the drought periods is easier here, though paradoxically the most serious problems of herd management occur in this zone. The tradition al pastoralists are in conflict with the new generation of farmers, or even city dwellers who have gone back to keeping animal s. The space available for stock in the region will have to be reorganized if everyone is to get a share, especially in the river valleys where irrigated plots are becoming more common place. Pastoralism thrives best in the Sudan, as here there is more than 500mm of rainfall per annum. It is disease that constitutes the main threat to cattle in this area. Agriculture, which is an important activity in the Sudan, must work with, rather than against, pastoralism by producing crops for came feed. As food crops bring in very Iittle in this region came-rearing must be highly developed.now virtually non-existent north of the 200mm isohyet (rainfall line). The drought years have ruined much of the grazing land, and because so many men have left the area there is insufficient manpower to draw up water from the wells. From Mauritania..