Environmental and Social Impact Assessment - Gibe III

Gibe III – Environmental and Social Impact Assessment 300 ENV R CS 002 C - A9003099
5.4.6 Livestock
5.4.6.1 Livestock Resources
Photo 5.15: View of Dipa Hayk, Hamer wereda, Korocho kebele
The arid and semi arid parts of the lower Omo is inhabited by different groups of pastoralists and agropastoralists.
Livestock are normally reared by the pastoralists for subsistence. The main products of livestock
in this system are milk, meat, blood, cash and transport. Livestock also serve as security against natural and
manmade calamities and to pay dowries. Cash from livestock sales is used to purchase grain to supplement
their energy-deficient diet of milk and milk products.
According to the information obtained from the south Omo zone Agricultural and Rural Development
offices, goat are the principal livestock species followed by cattle, sheep, poultry, and equines (See
Table 5.48).
Table 5.48: Livestock Population by Wereda in the Lower Omo Area
Sr.No Wereda Cattle Sheep Goat Camel Equine Poultry Beekeeping
1 Dasenech 219,380 105,405 206,185 256 14,144 5,231 5,000
2 Nyangatom 51,806 48,260 55,100 70 6,343 3,694 1,000
3 Selamago 66,000 18,000 20,500 - 5,000 54,000 27,500
4 Hamer 110,696 84,186 167,670 24 12,126 8,955 90,000
Total 447,882 255,851 449,455 350 37,613 71,880 123,500
Source: South Omo Zone Agricultural and Rural development Office
Herd and flock distribution in the area is governed by the availability of feed and water. Consequently,
livestock graze close to the river (on the floodplain) in the dry season and in the wet season disperse away
from watering points.
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