Climate variability; enhancing adaptive utilization of browse trees for improved livestock production among agro-pastoralists communities in Southern Zambia

Abstract

Agro-pastoralists whose sources of livelihood depend on rain-fed agriculture are very vulnerable to  ecological disturbance due to increasing climate variability. They are unable to adequately feed their animals in times of extreme weather conditions of floods and droughts thereby causing a disruption in their  major source of livelihood. This study analyzed the feeding strategies employed by agro- pastoralists in  Southern Zambia and important browse species used in extreme weather conditions, in order to improve  their utilization for improved livestock production. The major feeding strategies during droughts include  browse utilization, dambo grazing, grazing along streams and supplementary feeding. While during floods,  upland grazing and browse grazing were the main strategies. However, most of the agro-pastoralists do  not practice pasture management and fodder conservation for their animals. Of the 21 tree browse species  identified by the agro-pastoralists, 18 species were found to be important during droughts and 8 during  floods. Most of the agro-pastoralists neither knew how to plant these browse species nor how to manage  them for better and sustainable use in feeding their animals. Therefore, the agro-pastoralists in the study  area need to take up management and feed conservation measures for their animals. Deliberate effort  should be made to teach the agro-pastoralists how to plant and manage the important browse species that are suitable in extreme weather conditions. This will enhance productive use of the browse species for  improved animal feeding to ensure food security among the pastoralists.

Key words: Extreme weather conditions, adaption, browse species, Agro-pastoralists.