Ethiopia: hopeful the worst has passed
“I used to have 30 cattle before, but I lost 16 to the drought,” says Berako Golduma from Borena in southern Ethiopia.
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As a pastoralist, Berako relies on his cattle as a kind of living bank: they aren’t simply a source of food and milk, they are also the main assets he owns. But during last year’s devastating drought, Berako’s cattle died at an alarming rate, because of a lack of water and pasture. He used to have to walk for hours each day to collect grass for the cattle to eat: they were too weak to make the journey themselves.
“We didn’t have milk or food in the house,” he remembers. “We were in deep problems. We had to sell six of our cattle just to buy food.”
Improving water supplies
We have worked with our local partners to manage a “pond rehabilitation” scheme, which means that, when it rains, water will remain in the pond for up to five months. Through the scheme, Berako and other local people were paid to carry out the work on the pond. The money they earned helped them to buy food in the short term, and the improved water supply will mean that their animals are more likely to survive for longer.
Berako says: “I participated in the pond work, which has helped me to keep my remaining cattle. If I was not involved in the project, I would have had to sell more. Instead I used the money I got from pond to buy grains, clothes and other materials.
“This year is much better than last year. I am hopeful that the worst time has passed.”
