Determining Factors of Rangeland management Practices in Borana Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the local knowledge of pastureland managing practices in Borana that has been managed by traditional institutions. Despite the fact, several researches have been done on rangeland management practices but little study has been done with respect to the local knowledge of pastoral communities and the determining limits with the start of various pressures in the study context. The paper aimed to address the demographic, socioeconomic and institutional aspects that determine the local knowledge of rangeland management. The study selected three districts that all were from pastoralists. Purposive sampling techniques were employed to select representative districts based on their livelihood practices. The study employed descriptive and inferential statistical methods to analyze the data using SPSS version 24. The study looked at the extent at which the household heads manage rangeland productivity. The research result indicated 157(62.549%), majority of the respondents greatly exercising traditional mode of rangeland management that was enhancing mobility while the rest 94(37.451%) poorly engaged in. The finding also revealed the high illiteracy level 54.98% balancing to the elders. In the study context, the interventions and strategies are ended up with little success story due to the environmental degradations. Looking into indigenous rangeland management practices of pastoral community is a useful way to develop sustainable rangeland productivity.