1 129 Scenes
This article was published in Young Africa November 5, 2024.
Mohamed Ould El-Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Mahamat Idriss Déby, President of the Republic of Chad
Ousmane DiaganaWorld Bank Vice President for West and Central Africa
PH: DSR: Innovative solutions to revive pastoralism and livestock farming in the Sahel
The Sahel is a large region that stretches from the Atlantic coast in Mauritania and Senegal to the Nile Valley in Sudan. It is a place of passages and movements, a place of arrival and departure, a place of exchanges and commerce. Dense in human activity, the center of regional integration in sub-Saharan Africa, this region is vital for some 212 million inhabitants, and beyond its natural boundaries, for the economy and stability of West Africa.
However, since the great drought of the 1970s, the Sahel has been the scene of continuous and interdependent crises, then a climate with droughts, floods, or locust attacks; desert environment; food with famine; economic or security. In the first six months of 2024, more than 3,000 civilians were killed by violence, an increase of 25% compared to the previous six months. As we write these lines, the heavy rains and floods affecting this geographical area have affected more than 2.5 million of the inhabitants and the death of -cause at least 900 people.
Breeders: iconic figures and champions of sustainability in the Sahel
In this context, the resilience of Sahelian societies is greatly determined by the effects associated with several crises. The large areas where pastoral communities live are under increasing pressure from the massive expansion of agricultural activity and population growth, and from overcoming civil insecurity that crosses borders. So many tensions that contribute to the stigmatization of guides.
However, these breeders, iconic figures of the Sahel, are in a better position to adapt to developments in the Sahel. Their adaptability in different contexts and their ability to make the most of the natural resources available make them champions of resilience in every sector. By strengthening their ability to change, we can not only improve their quality of life, but also contribute to the prosperity of Sahelian communities.
A powerful factor in regional economic integration
Pastoralism is of great economic importance to the Sahel. It ensures food and nutrition security, providing 90% of red meat and 70% of milk. It also contributes to the sustainable management of natural resources and the fight against climate change over more than 3 million km², while generating income for pastoralists and agro-traders . This mode of living on which more than 20 million people in Sahel countries directly depend is a major asset and a powerful factor in regional economic integration.
More than ten years after the declaration The Ox and of Nouakchott on a vision that brought us together in 2013, and with more than a billion dollars of investments by countries and their partners, the time has come to take stock. We welcome the many advances made in the main areas of sustainable management of natural resources, development of livestock production and marketing infrastructure, animal health, social inclusion of livestock breeders, especially women and young people, and strengthening national institutions responsible for livestock.
However, the results of the policies and projects implemented seem mixed. There are still some challenges, and new ones appearing before our eyes. We can mention, among others, the worsening of insecurity and violence, the reduction of pastoral areas, the explosion of urbanization, and the expansion of climate restrictions.
From “peaceful transhumance” to “peaceful lands”
Despite these challenges, leadership and mobility are central to the development of rural areas in the Sahel, as well as coastal countries. Addressing them requires complex regulatory reforms in the livestock sector. Pastoralism in the Sahel goes beyond the geographical and regional framework through which it has been dealt with so far and it is now important to evolve from a logic of “peaceful transhumance” to logic of “peaceful zones”. This is the whole essence of our open and renewed partnership.
The forum that will be held in Nouakchott in the coming days will give us the opportunity to explore innovative solutions to revive pastoralism and livestock farming in the Sahel, and throughout West Africa. Our desire, more than ever, is to pay more attention to this vital sector, and to strengthen our actions to build a prosperous and peaceful future for a population that is expected to reach almost 514 million people -habitation by 2030.
