Majekodunmi Ayodele O, Dongkum Charles, Langs Tok, Shaw Alexandra P M, Welburn Susan C
Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, The Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB UK.
Livestock and Poultry Research Centre, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 25, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
Pastoralism. 2017;7(1):19. doi: 10.1186/s13570-017-0091-3. Epub 2017 Jul 4.
This paper presents an in-depth investigation of the livelihood strategies of Fulani pastoralists in north central Nigeria. Results show a diversified crop-livestock system aimed at spreading risk and reducing cattle offtake, adapted to natural resource competition and insecurity by extensification, with further diversification into off-farm activities to spread risk, increase livelihood security and capture opportunities. However, significant costs were associated with extensification, and integration of crop and livestock enterprises was limited. Mean total income per capita in the study area was $554 or $1.52/person/day with 42% of households earning less than 1.25/person/day. Income levels were positively correlated with income diversity and price received per animal sold, rather than herd size. The outcomes of this livelihood strategy were favourable across the whole community, but when individual households are considered, there was evidence of moderate economic inequality in total income, cash income and herd size (Gini coefficient 0.32, 0.35 and 0.43 respectively). The poorest households were quite vulnerable, with low assets, income and income diversity. Implications for sustainability are discussed given the likelihood that the negative trends of reduced access to natural resources and insecurity will continue.
本文对尼日利亚中北部富拉尼牧民的生计策略进行了深入调查。结果显示，他们采用了多样化的农牧系统，旨在分散风险并减少牲畜出栏量，通过扩大规模来适应自然资源竞争和不安全状况，并进一步向非农活动多样化发展，以分散风险、增强生计安全性并抓住机遇。然而，扩大规模带来了巨大成本，且农作物和畜牧企业的整合程度有限。研究区域的人均总收入平均为554美元，即每人每天1.52美元，42%的家庭人均收入低于1.25美元/天。收入水平与收入多样性以及每头售出牲畜的售价呈正相关，而非与畜群规模相关。这种生计策略的成果在整个社区都较为有利，但从个体家庭来看，在总收入、现金收入和畜群规模方面存在适度经济不平等的迹象（基尼系数分别为0.32、0.35和0.43）。最贫困的家庭非常脆弱，资产、收入和收入多样性都很低。鉴于获取自然资源减少和不安全状况等负面趋势可能持续，本文讨论了其对可持续性的影响。
