<
https://africanarguments.org/2026/08/walking-with-the-herd-why-africa-must-rethink-its-oldest-economy/>
"When pastoralists, researchers, policymakers and development practitioners
gathered in Marsabit this year to mark the International Year of Rangelands and
Pastoralists (IYRP-2026), the conversations went far beyond livestock, drought
or humanitarian aid. Convened by the Centre for Research and Development in
Drylands (CRDD), the dialogue challenged a deeply rooted assumption that has
shaped development policy for decades: that pastoralism is an outdated
livelihood gradually being overtaken by modernity.
It is an assumption that has endured despite mounting evidence to the contrary.
For generations, pastoralism has been portrayed as a temporary stage in
development—a way of life expected to give way to settled agriculture, urban
employment and industrial economies. Consequently, public investment has
overwhelmingly favored crop farming, mining and infrastructure while pastoral
regions have often received attention only during periods of drought, livestock
disease or conflict.
Yet climate change is forcing the world to reconsider what resilience actually
means.
As rainfall becomes increasingly erratic and extreme weather events grow more
frequent, scientists and development agencies are promoting flexibility,
mobility, ecosystem restoration and adaptive resource management as essential
responses to a warming planet. Ironically, these are the very principles upon
which pastoralism has been built for centuries."
Via Muse.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
