Environmental Change and Socio-Economic Transformation in North-West Kenya
272 pages
10 hours of reading
Focusing on the experiences of pastoral communities, this book explores their visions and strategies for the future amidst environmental changes and extensive government initiatives. It delves into the ways these groups adapt and respond to external pressures, highlighting their resilience and innovative approaches to sustainability. Through in-depth analysis, it sheds light on the intersection of traditional practices and modern challenges faced by pastoralists.
Gum arabic is a tree resin obtained from Acacia senegal, an endemic tree
species to the African Sahel Zone. Recently, plantation cultivation of Acacia
senegal has been introduced in Northern Nigeria and the 'modern' production of
gum arabic is investigated by government institutions to promote future gum
arabic production, alongside a thitherto predominant smallholder collection of
gum arabic from so-called natural stands of Acacia senegal. The two ways of
collecting or producing gum arabic - smallholder collection in natural stands
and plantation cultivation of Acacia senegal - are compared referring to land
and labour productivity. In contrast to the collection of gum arabic in
natural stands, the production of gum arabic in plantation cultivation
requires the implementation of several working steps that are not carried out
in natural stands. Hence, the question is raised how these two ways of gum
arabic production differ from each other and why the collection from natural
stands is rather extensive in comparison to plantation cultivation. Therefore,
the context of local livelihoods and the interaction of several actors in the
drylands of North-Eastern Nigeria is taken into consideration to explain the
collection of gum arabic in natural stands. These interactions are limited in
plantation cultivation where gum arabic production efficiency and
profitability is focussed.
