| المستخلص: |
The present Darfur conflict has influenced the livelihood of rural communities very negatively and resulted in many socioeconomic problems, mainly the challenges to maintain the mutual interdependence and complementary relations between both pastoralists and farmers. This paper attempts to examine the challenges facing the livelihood systems of farmers and pastoral communities and the resultant livelihood changes encountered along Nouri Abu Gidad animal route in rural Kerenik in West Darfur-Sudan. It is based on Participatory Rapid Rural Appraisal Approach and adopted the analytical explanatory approach. The study has used multi stage sample where several sites along Nori-Abu Gidad animal route were selected. Certain criteria were employed to facilitate analyzing the problem. The results indicated that farmers and pastoralists in study area are highly affected by complex and interrelated challenges that constrained their traditional livelihood systems. Both communities resorted to some traditional livelihood strategies. For instance, farmers resorted to wadi cultivation to grow staple food. Due to the breakdown of economic and social relations with farmers, some pastoral households established permanent Damar to practice limited cultivation for staple food production, changed their herd composition by increasing the number of cows and small animals to supplement household consumption and sale for cash. Local markets also increased in numbers and size. The importance of the paper is that it addressed the root causes of the conflict and concluded by some recommendations which would have policy implications for the future development of both livelihood systems and hence peace building between both farmers and pastoralists. Moreover, it recommends improving and increasing the existing services and support farmers and pastoralists to cope with the climate change and diversify and strengthen their livelihood sources.
|
