Drought Management among the Afar

Drought in the low-land areas of the Horn has increased in magnitude that it is now the representative image of the Afar Region of Ethiopia. The Afar pastoralists of Dubti District have been victims of drought since the 1950s. The 2002/03 drought, the most deadly one, has consumed up to 90% of grazers in the area. The loss of livestock has destructive effect on milk consumption and thereby exacerbates food security. When drought occurs, a special effect called the "price-scissors effect" happens whereby the price of cereals goes up and that of livestock goes down. The book argues that the evil edge impact of drought is eroding coping strategy of the pastoralists, especially the poor, the pure pastoralists and female-headed households. Above all, it is creating environmental bankruptcy to the already fragile and harsh environment. The book explains how natural factors coupled with the unwise utilization of resources by development interventions of the state and to a lesser extent, that of the pastoralists have aggravated the impact that drought brought to the area. It also explanis how the age long drought management blended with the scientific one, can be a remedy to drought.