Drivers of forage availability: An integration of remote sensing and traditional ecological knowledge in Karamoja sub-region, Uganda
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pastoralism
Abstract
Low-input pastoral production systems provide up to 90 % of livestock and livestock products consumed in Uganda.
However, pastoral communities are increasingly faced with the challenge of meeting their livestock needs in terms of
forage, a situation exacerbated by climatic variability. The study identified the patterns of forage availability and quality,
compared perceived patterns of forage availability with normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and determined
drivers of forage availability in Karamoja sub-region. Over a 12-month period, 75.3 % of the respondents perceived
forage to be sufficiently available with differentiated availability in the livelihood zones and between livestock species
(goats, sheep, cattle, donkeys and camels). A similar pattern was observed with regard to perceived forage quality. A
significant relationship between perceived forage availability and long-term mean monthly NDVI dynamics was
observed. A lag time of 2.9 months existed between rainfall and vegetation response peak periods. Mean monthly
rainfall pattern was found to be correlated with perceived forage availability. The length of residence by a livestock
keeper, frequency of grazing, number of kraals, presence of governing rules, and presence of conflicts and knowledge
of pasture locations, restricted movement and ease of access to grazing areas significantly (P ≤ 0.05) were the major
perceived drivers of forage availability. Therefore, we find that pastoral communities in Karamoja have detailed
traditional ecological knowledge of forage status and their perceived determinants. There is a need to conduct
nutritional analysis of key forage species available in the different livelihood zones. Finally, there is a need to constantly
monitor socio-political conditions that have potential of creating ‘artificial’ forage shortage in the sub-region.
Description
Keywords
Dynamics, Livestock species, Pastoral, Semi-arid, Karamoja, Uganda
Citation
Egeru, A., Wasonga, O., Mburu, J., Yazan, E., Majaliwa, M. G., MacOpiyo, L., & Bamutaze, Y. (2015). Drivers of forage availability: An integration of remote sensing and traditional ecological knowledge in Karamoja sub-region, Uganda. Pastoralism, 5(1), 1-18. DOI 10.1186/s13570-015-0037-6