RESEARCH NOTE CAMEL HUSBANDRY AMONG PASTORALISTS IN DARFUR, WESTERN SUDAN H.H. Musa, E.S. Shuiep and Ibtisam E.M. El Zubier Keywords Arabian camel, nomads, socio-economic survey, Darfur, western Sudan.
Introduction A summary is given of a study conducted during 2003 in the Darfur states of western Sudan. The study presents information about mainly nomadic camel owners, types of camels and other animals reared, camel herd structure, purpose of camel rearing, movement during the year, feeding, management and the economic aspects of camel husbandry. The camel (Camelus dromedaries, one-humped camel) in Darfur originated in Arab countries and was introduced to the Sudan. These camels are kept in nomadic systems in the semi-desert and savanna belt of Darfur, in association with sheep and goats. Camels produce milk, meat, wool, hair and hides and are used for riding, transport and cultivation. Nomadic Sudanese Arab tribes that own camels include Maalia, Mahria, Umm Jallol, Awlad Zaid and Bani Halba. Other tribes of the Midob and Zaghwa also own camels. Nomadic Arab tribes and other tribes owning camels have entered Sudan through the west and north-western borders via northern Chad or southern Libya, reaching their ultimate destination at the River Nile. The problems facing camel production in Darfur states include shortage of water in desert areas, complicated inter-ethnic grazing access and diseases and parasites. In recent years these areas have been affected by drought and some areas of grazing land have been partially desertified; hence migratory herds of camels have penetrated southwards into the savannah zone for dry-season grazing. Moreover, the extension of crop farms has meant a reduction of available grazing land, which has led to serious problems culminating in the Darfur war starting in mid-2003. Arabian camels have become fully adapted to the desert and semi-desert regions of Sudan. The number of camels in the Sudan was 3.20 million (FAO 1999). The total number of camels in the three Darfur states is estimated as 759,000 of which 397,000 were in Northern Darfur, 287,000 in Western Darfur and 75,000 in South Darfur (Central Bureau of Statistics 2003). The Sudan famine of the mid-1980s caused social dislocation; many farmers and pastoralists were displaced and driven from the western provinces into urban NOMADIC PEOPLES
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feeding stations (Werner 1994). Similarly, the Darfur wars in 1989 and mid-2003 caused social dislocation in which most pastoralists were displaced and moved to urban areas. Hence the objectives of the present study were to estimate the socioeconomic performance of camel owners and to obtain information on camel management among the nomadic tribes of Darfur.
Study Area and Methods The study was conducted from January to December 2003, mainly in South Darfur State in the extreme south-west of Sudan, an area of 139,800 sq. km between latitude 8°: 30–17°: 30 N and longitude 23°: 15–28° E. Some data from northern and western Darfur states were also included. The rainy season starts in May and continues until October, with most rain falling in July and August, and an annual mean of 400 mm (Nyala Meteorological Station 1961–2002). Temperatures reach a maximum of 42C¢ª in May and a minimum of 15C¢ª in January. The rangeland is semi-desert in the north to treed savannah in the south. In recent years the area of rangeland has decreased, while the area under crops and non-agricultural activities has progressively increased. A questionnaire was used for discussions with groups of three to five camel owners, visiting Nyala livestock market at monthly intervals. Some owners were visited in their camps outside Nyala city. Records were also obtained from the towns of El Fasher and Kebkabiya (Northern Darfur State) and Sarf Umra (northern and western Darfur).
Characteristics of Camel owning Families Most of the camel owners were nomadic (77%). Due to the lack of mobile schools and the need for families to migrate, 79% of them were uneducated. Forty percent of the household heads had more than one wife, with an average household size of nine. The herds of each family were reared and kept together firstly and then separated for each wife when her children were able to manage them. Similarly, sons separated their herds after marriage. Bride price was paid as one female camel as well as 30,000 to 90,000 Sudanese Dinar cash. About two-thirds of camel owners reared sheep in addition to camels, and onethird reared sheep and goats together. Camels and small ruminants were grazed separately. The multi-species grazing pattern is a recommended method for better utilisation of the pasture (Steinfeld 1998). The camel herders reared small ruminants for milking and local sales to satisfy household basic needs, and also to slaughter for guests.
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The main reported reason for keeping camels was income (34%), while social value was 22%, source of food was 26% and transportation was 19%.
Camel Husbandry Herd sizes of camels, goats and sheep per household ranged between 40–120 camels, 20–40 goats and 50–100 sheep. One breeding camel bull was used for 25 females. Males were used for transport by four years old, depending on the load, while 15% of owners used camels for pulling ploughs to cultivate farms. In good condition the hump is well-developed, as described by Wilson (1978). However, Midob camels are smaller in size, very strong and produce low-quantity wool compared with other types. When the grazing and climatic conditions become harsh in the dry season, camel owners migrate southwards to the savannah zone near to watering points. During the rainy season camels graze grasses and browse trees and after the rainy season they stay around cultivated areas to feed on crop residues. However, grazing on Acacia mellifera, Acacia senegal, Ziziphus spp., Balanities aegyptiaca and Ipomoea spp. caused clashes between settled farmers and nomadic camel herders. The watering interval varies from seven to nine days in summer, while in winter months when the ambient temperature is lower and the rangeland contains succulent plants, owners extend the watering interval to 20–35 days. Salt and atron (a source of calcium) are supplied, dissolved in drinking water and mash. The mineral atron is supplied in all seasons to build strong muscles and to increase endurance for long-distance movements. Salt is used during rainy and winter seasons due to the availability of water; it increases body weight at a time when grazing is scarce. Camels are classified according to their age as follows: at one year age mfrood, two years wadlabun, three years higg, four years gadaa, five years rabaa and seven years sdees.
Economics and Marketing The main costs associated with camel herding are the purchase of veterinary drugs and salt, while the main return is the sale of animals. The biggest markets for camels are the towns of Nyala, El Fasher, Sarf Umra and Furbranga. Camels are traditionally exported to Egypt and Libya for meat, whereas small ruminants are sold in local markets. Fermented milk and butter are also sold in the local markets. Price fluctuation is the most important marketing problem facing camel breeders. Other mentioned constraints are the high cost of drugs and the long distances between pastures and markets.
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Movement Patterns Each camel-owning tribe follows different routes when grazing during summer and autumn. The Maalia tribe spends the rainy season at north Ed Daien, Abu Karinka, El Lait and Adilla, while during summer season they stay at Buram. The Mahria tribe spends the summer south and west of Nyala city and during the rainy season they move to El Fasher and El Kuma. The Umm Jallol tribe spends summer at Umm Dukhn, Wadi Salih, Kebkabiya, and during the rainy season they stay at Donki El Bashim and Wadi Hawar. On the other hand, Awlad Zaid and Bani Halba tribes spend the rainy season at Gadid Dam, west Marra mountain, Wadi Abu Sonut and Wadi Hawar, but during summer they stay at Wadi Azom and Wadi Kaja, some times reaching as far as Umm Dafog. The Midob tribe spends summer at Midob mountains, Mellit, while during the rainy season they stay at Elgezo area, Elgebish and Umm Keddada. The Zaghwa tribe stays around El Fasher and Donki El Bashim in the rainy season and move to El Teina for summer.
Problems The biggest problems for camel production in Darfur are shortage of water in the desert areas, scarcity of grazing areas and the prevalence of diseases and parasites. The most important diseases reported are trypanosomaisis, camel pox, mange and haemoncosis. Some of the camel herders use traditional local treatments like kai (firing) and qutran (tar), mainly for treating mange. However, the regular movements to different grazing areas also assist in controlling parasites. Pagot (1992) noted that using rotational pasture grazing controlled parasites. In recent years the grazing areas have been affected by drought and desertification, which has forced the migratory camel herders to penetrate southwards into the savannah zone during the dry season. The authors conclude that there is a need to improve the administration and protection of the grazing lands based on both national strategy and local cultural traditions. There is also a need to design education, training and extension, human heath and veterinary services, and marketing systems to suit the tradition and movement of pastoralists.
Acknowledgements The authors are deeply grateful to the camel herders who participated in the survey. They also extend their thanks to Dr Tagwa Norrain and Dr M. El Muntaser for their help during data collection from the Northern Darfur State. 104
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References Central Bureau of Statistics. 2003. Statistical Year Book. 2001. Ministry of the Ministers Council, Republic of Sudan, Khartoum. FAO. 1999. Food and Agriculture Organization Production Year Book. Statistical Series. 53 (156). Rome, Italy. Nyala Meteorological Station Climatic Data. 1961–2000. Pagot, J. 1992. Animal Production in the Tropics and Subtropics. Macmillan Press Ltd, London. Steinfeld, H. 1998. ‘Livestock and their Interaction with the Environment. An Overview’, in Food, Lands and Livelihoods: Setting Research Agendas for Animal Science’, Gill, M.; Smith, T.; Pollott, G.E.; Owen, E. and Lawrence, T.L.J. (Eds). British Society of Animal Science Occasional Publication, eds M. Gill, T. Smith, G.E. Pollott, E. Owen and T.L.J. Lawrence, no. 21: 67–76. Werner, L. 1994. ‘Real live 2: Sudan’, People Planet 3(4): 20–25. Wilson, R.T. 1978. ‘Studies on Livestock of Southern Darfur, V: Notes on Camels. Tropical Animal Health and Production 10: 19–25.
H.H. Musa is at Department of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China. He is also associated with the Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Nyala, Sudan. Email:
[email protected] E.S. Shuiep is at the Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Nyala, Sudan. email:
[email protected] Ibtisam E.M. El Zubier is at the Department of Dairy Production, Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, Khartoum North, P. O. Box 32, Postal code 13314, Sudan. Email:
[email protected]
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