Environmental and Social Impact Assessment - Gibe III

Gibe III – Environmental and Social Impact Assessment 300 ENV R CS 002 C - A9003099
5.4.6.2 Livestock Feed Resources
Photo 5.16: Cattle herding in Hammer wereda
Livestock obtain their feed almost entirely from grazing and browsing. From the standpoint of the type of
range, the south Omo range has been classified into five zones. Three of them, namely Mursi-Bodi
Rangelands, Hamer-Dasenech Rangelands, and Mago-Omo Park Rangelands are of major importance to the
ethnic communities around the Omo River and Lake Turkana. However, there are an estimated 83,000ha of
arable land from which some aftermath and crop residue is obtainable for livestock feeding.
The Mursi Bodi Range is characterized by good grass and browse vegetation especially following the rainy
season. Soil fertility and abundance of water from Hanna, Mago, and Omo River are favourable
characteristics of the rangelands. The Mago-Omo Park Rangeland, as its name indicates, is mostly occupied
by the two large national parks, where the wildlife and the inhabitants, Benna, Karro and the Bodi people coexist.
The range has good water supply from Mago and the Omo Rivers. It has a good vegetation cover and
provides sufficient animal feed supply.
The Hammer-Dasenech Rangeland (Lower Omo Valley) is the south most part of the overall rangelands
system. Potential grazing resources that are used especially by Dasenech are those nine islands found along
the Omo River (See Photo 5.17). According to the wereda experts, when the Omo River floods/inundates
these islands the grazing resources is palatable and good for pastoralists along the Omo river valley
especially for the Dasenech and Hamer people.
In the long dry season, which extends up to February, there are feed and water shortages. Feed scarcity is
evident at watering points which attracts livestock during the dry season and these areas are normally
overgrazed. Areas farther away from the water sources can only be utilized when water is available in the
wet season. Low and erratic rainfall makes these lowlands extremely prone to recurring droughts which
causes both heavy livestock mortality and human famine.
CESI SpA - Mid-Day International Consulting Engineers Page 176