The total pastoral population in the old five regions of Puntland (Bari, Sool, Sanaag, Nugaal and. Mudug) and the district Buuhoodle (now the region of Cayn) ...
APPROACHES FOR ENUMERATING PASTORAL POPULATIONS IN PUNTLAND
Authors1: Mohamed Said Samantar, Ahmed Bashir Bulshale, Kafi Nidamudin Adam, Mohamed Hajji Bashir, Ahmed Said Ali, Idil Abdisalam Warsame and Mohamed Abdirizak Lafole.
Garowe, Puntland
January 2018
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Authors are from Puntland State University & East Africa University 1
Abbreviations & acronyms
FGDs
Focus Group Discussions
GDP
Gross Domestic Product
HADMA
Humanitarian and Disaster Management Agency
IDPs
Internally Displaced Persons
KIIs
Key Informant Interviews
MoPIC
Ministry of Planning & International Cooperation
PESS
Population Estimation Survey for Somalia
PSAWEN
Puntland State Agency of Water, Energy & Natural Resources
PSD
Puntland Statistics Department
RGCS
Random Geographic Cluster Sampling
UNFPA
United Nations Population Fund
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Abstract
This study is organised with the objective of getting the right information that will enable us to understand pastoral way of life, their movements and where they get water and pasture. In order to do that the study will have to emphasise, in first instance, which method is best suited to count Somali pastoralists. This is exactly the major purpose of this enquiry. The rationale behind the focus is that the economy of Puntland is largely dependent on livestock exports, which contribute to approximately 80% of foreign exchange earnings, 40% of the GDP and 60% of employment opportunities (PSD 2016). The existing literature on pastoral estimations recognises that at this point in time there is no great deal of consensus on the techniques for enumerating pastoralists. This same situation was observed some time ago in 1986 by Cowan, Charles D., et al, 1986. A Paper by Bourn (2016) reviewed general approaches that have been used in enumerating worldwide pastoralists that allowed them to describe different survey methods: Ground & Lowlevel aerial surveys. The ground surveys include water point, vaccinations points, dipping/spraying points, ethnic/clan, stock routes and Livestock markets. This study will tackle for the time being only part of the ground survey as can be seen in the methodology section. Often there is a confusion relating pastoral population numbers and the ensuing development strategies: “This state of uncertainty has recently come to affect the programming of development assistance, with one camp arguing that pastoral populations are rapidly declining due to drought, loss of land and other challenges, and the other camp arguing that pastoral populations are occupationally mobile (with people swinging in and out of pastoral strategies) and that if the number of active pastoralists has not kept at pace with national demographic growth, the importance of pastoralism as a system of production is in expansion. Whether from one camp or the other, data on the magnitude of the pastoral economy and the number of people involved are in demand within rural development circles” (Krätli and Swift, 2014). Preliminary findings of this study show that gathering points of pastoralists are villages (settlements or camps) and permanent water sources. It estimates that roughly 16% use Berkads, 31% use water delivery by trucks and 53% fetch water directly from the water points using camels to water their animals at the water points. The study also estimates that 10 to 15 water tankers collect water daily from communal water points and deliver to pastoralists in one district. The water tankers sometimes sell the water at higher prices which affects the household who have to pay them in livestock terms in the next rainy season.
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This above preliminary findings will guide any future pastoral sampling surveys for pastoralists should be based mainly on both water points and pasture availability valleys rather than on water points alone as done in the past studies. The experience of the 2017 drought demonstrated that pastoralists from Sanag, Togdheer, Sool and the Somali regional state of Ethiopia together with other areas of Puntland descended upon Kandala and Isku-Shuban districts in Bari region (especially the Nobir valley), the grazing that had sprung up after the last rain. The only thing they needed mostly was water that can be carried out and tracked.
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Table of Contents Abbreviations & acronyms..................................................................................................... 2 Abstract ................................................................................................................................ 3 1
INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 6 1.1
Background ................................................................................................................................... 6
1.2
Objectives...................................................................................................................................... 6
1.3
Research Questions ...................................................................................................................... 7
1.4
Problem Statement ....................................................................................................................... 7
1.5
Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................................. 8
2
LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................................... 9
3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................... 10
4
5
3.1
Research Design .......................................................................................................................... 10
3.2
Key Informative Interview (KII): .................................................................................................. 10
3.3
Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). ................................................................................................ 10
3.4
Target population ....................................................................................................................... 10
3.5
Limitation of the research ........................................................................................................... 11
FINDINGS...................................................................................................................... 11 4.1
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 11
4.2
Major triggers of pastoralists’ migration in dry and wet seasons. ............................................. 11
4.3
Permanent water sources across regions in Puntland. .............................................................. 12
4.4
Pastoralists’ gathering points and locations in wet and dry seasons. ........................................ 13
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................... 15 5.1
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 15
5.2
Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 15
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................ 16 ANNEXES ............................................................................................................................. 17 Annex 1: Map of Permanent Water Points in Puntland........................................................................ 17 Annex 2: Map of Major Pasture Areas in Puntland ............................................................................... 17
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1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Somalis are emerging from long civil conflict and there is urgent need to undertake rigorous social and economic development programmes aimed to improve the life of Somali population. In order to plan and implement such programmes, the government authorities and development partners need reliable information on population, geographical distribution and socio-economic characteristics. Our target population consists of pastoralists. There are internationally agreed methods of counting settled population, which applies urban, rural and IDPs. The pastoralists, on the other hand, are hard to count as they are scattered across large areas with no permanent places of residence. In the past, water point approach was used to capture pastoralists during dry season. However, it has been observed that water point approach may not be the right method to capture pastoralists due to changes that had occurred over the past decades in the way of life for pastoral people and their movements for grassing and water. Group assembly approach, camp approach, social structure approach, enumeration area, and water point approach are widely used to count pastoral population around the globe. Random Geographic Cluster Sampling (RGCS) method is also utilised in some countries where other approaches did not work. Thus, this exercise has been organized with the objective of getting the right information that will enable us understands pastoral way of life, their movements and where they get water and pasture. The study will then examine which method is best suited to count Somali pastoralists.
1.2 Objectives 1.2.1 General objective Gather information on the pastoral lifestyle patterns for the development of an appropriate methodology for enumerating pastoral population in Puntland.
1.2.2 Specific Objectives 1. To determine the pastoral gathering points during wet and dry seasons. 2. To identify the permanent and temporary water sources across districts. 3. To determine what triggers migration of pastoralists during dry and wet seasons.
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1.3 Research Questions 1. What determine the pastoral gathering points during wet and dry seasons? 2. What identifies the permanent and temporary water sources across districts? 3. What determines what triggers migration of pastoralists during dry and wet seasons?
1.4 Problem Statement
The Livestock sector dominates the economy of Puntland regions. The livestock products not only contribute to the livelihood of the pastoralists but also are a substantial portion of the daily food intake of the population living in rural and urban areas. The economy of Puntland is largely dependent on livestock exports, which contribute to approximately 80% of foreign exchange earnings, 40% of the GDP and 60% of employment opportunities (PSD 2016). Despite the growing importance and contribution of the livestock sector to Puntland economy, statistical data on the sector remains weak and surrounded with large uncertainties. Data on pastoralists is even less reliable given the specific challenges related to collecting data on this type of livestock since standard survey methods cannot be easily applied. Nomadic and transhumant pastoralists move their animals according to the availability of fodder resources and tend to inhabit relatively remote and inaccessible areas, which are major constraints on the conduct of conventional field surveys. Special attention is therefore required to devise appropriate methods for enumerating nomadic and transhumant livestock. The total pastoral population in the old five regions of Puntland (Bari, Sool, Sanaag, Nugaal and Mudug) and the district Buuhoodle (now the region of Cayn) amounted to 39 percent of the Puntland population according to PSD (2016a). Pastoralists keeping these animals are widely dispersed over large of rangelands in Puntland which are sometime difficult to access. This is due to the poor road networks, rough terrains and dispersed pastoral gathering points. This is witnessed during interventions in terms of water trucking, animal vaccination and in emergency situations. For development of this livelihood to happen, information on needs, numbers and conditions of the pastoral communities and their animals has to be available. This study is based on identifying the easiest ways of enumerating and collecting information on pastoralists in Puntland by using focus group discussions and Key Informant interviews.
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1.5 Conceptual Framework This research proposal casts on the problem statement within the context of a conceptual or theoretical framework. A conceptual framework is an analytical tool with several variations and contexts. It is used to make conceptual distinctions and organize ideas. Strong conceptual frameworks capture something real and do this in a way that is easy to remember and apply. Here are identifies the major variables of the conceptual framework.
Independent Variable (IV)
Identifying pastoral permanent water sources Dependant (DV)
Variable
Quality of Information for enumerating pastoral households
Classifying pastoral gathering points during wet and dry seasons
Understanding pastoral migration triggers during dry and wet seasons
1.5.1 Description of conceptual framework The study conceptual framework is based on the variables used in the study. In this conceptual framework it is conceptualized that improvidence of the methods for enumerating of pastoral 8
households: -identification of permanent and temporary water sources, identification of pastoral gathering points during wet and dry seasons and understanding migration triggers of pastoralists during dry and wet seasons. The focus was on influencing quality information for enumerating pastoral households which are independent variables. These factors determined the end result of the study which is the quality of information for enumerating pastoral households.
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LITERATURE REVIEW
The existing literature on pastoral estimations recognises that at this point in time there is no a great deal of consensus on the techniques for enumerating pastoralists. This same situation was observed some time ago in 1986 by Cowan, Charles D., et al, 1986. A Paper by Bourn (2016) reviewed general approaches that have been used in enumerating worldwide pastoralists that allowed them to describe different survey methods: Ground & Lowlevel aerial surveys. The ground surveys include water point, vaccinations points, dipping/spraying points, ethnic/clan, stock routes and Livestock markets. This study will tackle for the time being only part of the ground survey as can be seen in the methodology section. Recently, UNFPA using the above-mentioned methods covered a full-fledged survey. The Population Estimation Survey for Somalia (PESS 2014), included enumerating pastoralists throughout Somalia: Puntland, Somaliland & South-Central Somalia. The pastoralists’ approaches resulted less satisfactory with respect to the urban and rural population estimates. Often there is a confusion relating pastoral population numbers and the ensuing development strategies: “This state of uncertainty has recently come to affect the programming of development assistance, with one camp arguing that pastoral populations are rapidly declining due to drought, loss of land and other challenges, and the other camp arguing that pastoral populations are occupationally mobile (with people swinging in and out of pastoral strategies) and that if the number of active pastoralists has not kept at pace with national demographic growth, the importance of pastoralism as a system of production is in expansion. Whether from one camp or the other, data on the magnitude of the pastoral economy and the number of people involved are in demand within rural development circles” (Krätli and Swift, 2014).
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3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design Participatory Research approach was used as recommended by Barahona (2003), Holland (2013) and Samantar (2006). The study hence utilized community based tools such as group discussions and open-ended interviews with Key Informants. The data collected from the interviews and discussions were coded and categorized in order to answer the research objectives and eventually generate information which will be used to decide on the best method and way to enumerate pastoral livelihood communities in Puntland.
3.2 Key Informative Interview (KII): Key informant interviews are qualitative in-depth interviews with people who know what is going on in Pastoral communities. The purpose of key informant interviews is to collect information from a wide range of people—including community leaders, drought response committees, humanitarian and Government staff —who have first-hand knowledge about the pastoral communities and their ways of life. These experts, with their particular knowledge and understanding, provided insights to the nature of destinations of pastoral communities, migration triggering factors, as well as permanent and temporary water points that are important for pastoral communities across Puntland. They also supported to recruit the FGDs participants.
3.3 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). FGDs is a type of a group interview where group of individuals are gathered together for the purpose of getting information about pastoral communities in Puntland. FGDs were held through a teleconference where the interviewer in a remote area interviewed a group of participants (3 participants per group) sitting together. Regional environmental coordinators, district environmental officers or relevant government staff at district or regional level facilitated the process of gathering and identifying the persons who took part in the FGDs.
3.4 Target population The target population for this research were divided into two: FDGs and KIIs. For FDGs, it will be 3 persons from 19 districts in Puntland = 57. In each FGDs, the participants included a Government representative at regional or district level, and two pastoralists. For the KII, strictly representatives from the 10 organizations were engaged. These organisations were selected due to their leading roles in provision of social services to pastoral communities in Puntland. They include: Ministry of Livestock and Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Interior and Rural Development, HADMA, Ministry of Environment Wildlife and Tourism, Ministry of Agriculture, Puntland Drought Committee, MoPIC, Ministry of Health, PSAWEN and Ministry of Education. 10
3.5 Limitation of the research -
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4 4.1
FGDs was conducted partly through telephone interviews and this reduced availability of much needed information on pastoral communities. The FGDs were carried out in 19 districts in Puntland based on the 1990 district demarcations. However, the appointment of new districts by the Puntland Government made a small obstacle for some participants to differentiate them. Respondents’ expectations of immediate benefit in terms of payments or projects were definite but the research team did additional explanation to state the purpose of the study again and again during the FGDs..
FINDINGS Introduction
This chapter presents the findings from the focus group discussions which are aligned to achieving the specific objectives of this study.
4.2 Major triggers of pastoralists’ migration in dry and wet seasons. The major triggers for migration are water, pasture, and disease outbreaks and clan conflicts. Traditionally, this used to be done on camelbacks however after on foot surveys. With increased accessibility of mobile trucks and telephones the movements have become more sophisticated and it happens much faster and much easier than before. Reduction in household herd size over the years due to extreme climate conditions and wrong rangeland management practices has also contributed to the changes in the patterns of migration and frequency of movements. Pastoral households used to be sometimes hesitant because they had a large number of livestock especially when there is high kidding (young animals) which could not be transported on the camelbacks. Nowadays, even households without mobile trucks hire them and pay the truck owners later in form of livestock. When settling in new areas, households disperse over large areas and not traditionally close to water points because of availability of water tankers and household water storage capacities such as ‘plastic tubes’ and drums. Deterioration of the soil fertility and quick settlement of pastoralists immediately after rainfall on a piece of land has significantly increased the movement of pastoralists because they have to look for better greener pasture and water. Successive droughts and loss of nutritious fodder has significantly decreased livestock production. Other determinants of movements of pastoralists in Buhoodle include cross border issues such as security, new regulations, conflicts, etc. Youth migration into towns has left care of the pastoral households and their livestock under the elderly and young children. Family cohesion has now changed in many households as the weak 11
members stay in camps (settlements with only Somali huts) and the men move out with the Camels and Shoats to long distances. In Sool region separation of household’s livestock due to migration has stopped because of the small number of livestock. “Walaalkay wuxuu lahaa 650 ari ah, maanta waxaa u jooga wax ka yar 100”, “My brother had over 650 shoats, today he has less than 100” said Mr. Abdi Muse. Even though some households have substantial number of livestock, generally, separation is not common in Buhoodle. “Markay abaartu dhacdo, xoolaha waa la isku dardarsadaa oo raggu kaxeeyaan, dumarka iyo ciyaalkana waxaa looga tagaa kaamamka”, “When the droughts happen, households bring together their livestock, the boys and men take them to the grasslands, women and the weak ones stay behind in the camps” said Mr. Abdullahi who added that this is a common phenomenon nowadays across many areas in Cayn and Sool regions.
4.3 Permanent water sources across regions in Puntland. Period of utilisation of the water sources depends on the quality of the water resource and the number of pastoralists in the area. The major sources of water are surface water structures, deep boreholes and shallow wells. For those who are trucking water, this means that they are using tankers and they are storing water drums, water tubes, jerry cans, etc. “Dadku waa isku noolyihiin” “people live together and share resources” said Mr. Abdikani Osman Mohamoud. It is very difficult to make a good estimation. The study found that roughly 16% use Berkads, 31% use water delivery by trucks and 53% fetch water directly from the water points using camels water their animals at the water points. The study also estimates that 10 to 15 water tankers collect water daily from community water sources and deliver to pastoralists in one district. The water tankers sometimes sell the water at higher prices which affects the household who have to pay them in livestock terms in the next rainy season. For this reason, many are in debt and need support to clear the debts or face the challenge of giving away their livestock. In many permanent water sources, the quality of the water is very poor and not fit for human consumption. This due to increased salinity and contamination of the water by big numbers of the livestock gathering at the water points. Waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, measles and flu have been reported due to consumption of the contaminated water and weakness of the people during droughts. The permanent water sources in Puntland are summarised in table (1) below.
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Table 1: Pastoral main permanent water points in Puntland Region
Pastoral main permanent water sources
Sool
Gocondhaale, Hor-u-fadhi, Buhoodle, Faarax Bulay, Xararan, Dandan, Xalin, Fadhiyar, Dhubuq-dhubuq, Kacaya, Kalcad, Xaarquba, Buurowadal, Faleyryaale, Hadhwanaag, Godqaboobe, Tukeraq
Mudug
Balibuslana, Buubi, Saymad, Bacadwayn, Godod, Gacamafale, Cagaaran, Bayra, Teerage, Bursaalax, Kalabayr, Kuwayd, Darasalaam, Goldogob, Qansaxle, Xirojaale and Nugaal Gibin.
Bari
Iskushuban, Dharoor, Dharjaale, Gargoore, Biyoguduud, Laasbaxay, Noobir, Ceelxaafuun, Toox, Butiyaalo, Madlehe, Ceelkaishkushuban, DharjaaleTimirshe, Sandhuubo, Washington, Taageer
Nugaal
Dangorayo, Libaaxo, Kayaxed, Eyl, Qansaxle, Ceelmadoobe, Qarxis, Biyacade, Dhiganle, Garowe, Bixiiyo, Laasolahelay, Inihaab, Laasoxoolaad,
Sanaag
Midigale, Carmaale, Yube, Macag, Buq, Boodacade, Ceelcad, Kalgubataale, Ceelbuh, Yaloomaha, Faqdhuure, Buud, Kurtunka, Guubiye
4.4 Pastoralists’ gathering points and locations in wet and dry seasons. Much as pastoralists have to go to greener pastures, but then water points and access are very important for their survival. During the dry season when the grass is dry, animals need to drink more water than the wet season. Therefore, households look for where water can be trucked, near water points or areas where they think that support can reach to them faster. In the wet seasons, Pastoralists stay close to settlements where they do trade. The settlements (camps) have committees and traditional leaders who run the issues at the camp and its surroundings. Those close to the main road sell their milk on the roadside or in villages on the roads. As of now, mobile teams providing nutrition programs and sanitation from the Ministry of Health and mobile education (like the pastoralist way of learning) under trees for these communities have been reported in all regions. Although livestock and pastoralists can stay anywhere since the majority of people in Sool region depend on livestock, there are areas where restrictions for permanent settlements have been banned on understanding between communities. However, private enclosures within the rangelands remain a common issue across the regions and this will eventually bring problems in the future. The pasture dedicated areas are summarized in Table (2) below.
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Table 2: Major Pasture Designated Areas in Puntland Region
Pasture areas
Sool
Dhool Meegaag, Goblodoox, Garasle, Balli howd, Balli Docol, Gocosle, Dhumay, Kacaya, Habarikudhagooti, Boodo, Rehel, Maragmaal, Dhuumayar, Xidiganti, Guryosan, Nuguulo, Iskuxil, Xundhugaal, Gocondhaale, Hagoogane, Maygaagle, Qaydar, Tuulo barwaaqo, Maroodikadhac, Jeexdin jaf, Shangalle, Carrowayn, Qawlo, Fadhiyar, Laabaas, Kalcad, Dhidar
Mudug
Jariiban, Balibusle, Godcad, Raydable, Raxanreeb, Hayaanle, Caracase, Yeyley, Darab, Quracle, Xajiinle, Roox, Riigoomane, Ciidnacas, Qansaxle, Jeexo, Axmedkhayr, Darasalaam, Xirojaale and Nugaal Gibin
Bari
Dharoor, Camaan, Geedaal, Balidhafaruuryo, Dabar, Yadanyoobay, Kurcaanood, Saramaanquud, Dhudhub, Noobir, Ban Qare, Dhaadaarmarsheded, Reebidiriqle, Koorotuunshe, Reebicanjeele, Weysle Dharoor, Xinka, Abdeexaan, Qarxis Hoosingaabo
Nugaal
Sanaag
Libaaxo, Kalyaxeed, Magacley, Caris, Gunburka Cagaare, Maygaag, Maygaagyo, Balidacar, Maygaag leex, Habarjiif, Arilays Garis Bari, Xaar -Xaar, Goolad Ceel Kale, Qorale, Dooxa-dheer, Carroweyn, Farcaraale, Uducule, Carmo Dhagax, Carmo Deero, Ubagle, Guribaraar, Hayamooge, Wardambe, Qabdhac
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CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Conclusion The major triggers of pastoralist movements are search of water and pasture for their livestock in the dry seasons. In the wet seasons, their movements are related to disease outbreaks, salt licks, and clan conflicts and desire to be at home (clan based areas). Migration process has advanced over the years from on foot or camelbacks to use of modern trucks and telephones to identify greener pastures. Depending on their capacity to store water, households prioritise staying close to permanent water points or pasture valleys. Most households go directly to the water points, others use trucked water while few have Berkads. The best way to reach to the pastoralists during the dry and wet seasons is to visit them near the settlements and permanent water points since there are no currently enforced regulations on seasonal grazing systems., Their major needs in the dry seasons are clean water and food while in the wet seasons they need relief of debts and restocking. Health services and sanitation are continuously needed throughout the seasons especially during diseases outbreaks.
5.2 Recommendations
1. Future sampling surveys for pastoralists should be based on both water points and pasture availability valleys rather than on water points alone as done in the past studies. 2. Sampling can also be drawn from the focal persons of the settlements of the different institutions, water truck drivers and elders of the villages and camps. 3. Reliance of Participatory Statistics is of paramount priority in order for the pastoralists to generate reliable and appropriate data by themselves. 4. Preparation of the ground for the implementation of the Global Strategy’s Integrated Survey Framework, Bourn (2016:82)
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REFERENCES
Barahona, C. & Levy, S. (2003, November), How to generate statistics and influence policy using participatory methods in research: Reflections on work in Malawi 1999–2002, p. 57, IDS Working Paper 212, United Kingdom. Bourn, David, 2016, Guidelines for the enumeration of nomadic and semi-nomadic (Transhumant) livestock, Global Strategy for Improving Africulture & Rural Statistics, FAO, Rome Cowan, Charles D., Anthony G. Turner, Karen Stanecki, 1986, DESIGN OF THE SOMALIA POST ENUMERATION SURVEY (1986-1987), U.S. Bureau of the Census Holland, J. Ed. (2013). Who Counts? The Power of Participatory Statistics' , Practical Action Publishing, ISBN: 978 1 85339 772 1 Saverio Krätli and Jeremy Swift, 2014, Counting Pastoralists in Kenya, Drylands Learning and Capacity Building Initiative for Improved Policy and Practice in the Horn of Africa, Nairobi PESS (2014), Population Estimation Survey for Somalia, Puntland, MoPIC, Garowe PSD, (2016). PUNTLAND FACTS AND FIGURES, 6th edition, Puntland Statistics Department. Garowe PSD, (2016a), Puntland Population Distribution, Puntland Statistics Department MoPIC, Garowe Samantar, M. S. (2006). Scope for Improved Research Methodology in the Somali Development Contex, Brighton, United Kingdom.
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ANNEXES
Annex 1: Map of Permanent Water Points in Puntland
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Annex 2: Map of Major Pasture Areas in Puntland
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