5.3.3. When Pastures Dry

Drought affects the life of pastoralists everywhere. When rains fail and pastures are dry, cattle are likely to starve unless they can be moved to areas where forage is available. That is why, traditionally, pastoralists are nomadic; they move from place to place. This nomadism allows them to survive bad times and avoid crises.

Droughts can lead to a shortage of food for livestock. Pastoralists, who rely heavily on their animals for food and livelihood, are particularly vulnerable during these dry periods. Traditionally, they move their herds to find greener pastures and avoid starvation. This practice is known as nomadism and is crucial for their survival in harsh environments.

Think of a family that relies on a garden to grow their food. If their garden fails because of drought, they must either find a way to grow food somewhere else or go without. Similarly, pastoralists move their cattle to where they can find enough grass and water when their current area can no longer support them.

But from the colonial period, the Maasai were bound down to a fixed area, confined within a reserve, and prohibited from moving in search of pastures. They were cut off from the best grazing lands and forced to live within a semi-arid tract prone to frequent droughts. Since they could not shift their cattle to places where pastures were available, large numbers of Maasai cattle died of starvation and disease in these years of drought.

During colonial rule, policies were put in place that restricted the movements of the Maasai people. Instead of being able to move freely to find food and water for their cattle, they were confined to a specific area. This made it difficult for them to find enough resources during times of drought, leading to a significant loss of livestock.

Imagine if a farmer were forced to stay on a small piece of land, regardless of how it was performing. If the soil became dry and unproductive, the farmer would be unable to seek better land. Just like that farmer, the Maasai lost their freedom to move to more prosperous lands during tough times.

An enquiry in 1930 showed that the Maasai in Kenya possessed 720,000 cattle, 820,000 sheep and 171,000 donkeys. In just two years of severe drought, 1933 and 1934, over half the cattle in the Maasai Reserve died.

These figures provide a stark illustration of the impact of drought on the Maasai. In just a couple of years, a significant portion of their livestock vanished due to starvation and disease, which underlines how dependent pastoralists are on the health of their environment.

Consider a family that relies on a few cows for milk and meat. If they lose half of those cows due to illness or food shortages, it dramatically affects their food supply and income. The Maasai experienced a similar loss, which put their survival at risk.

As the area of grazing lands shrank, the adverse effect of the droughts increased in intensity. The frequent bad years led to a steady decline of the animal stock of the pastoralists.

The reduction in available grazing land during droughts not only contributes to immediate starvation but also has long-term effects on livestock populations. When pastoralists cannot let their herds rest and recover by moving to new pastures, the stress on both the environment and the animals leads to a decline in overall animal health and numbers.

Think of a school where students are not allowed to take recess to run and play. If they do not get a break, their energy and focus decline. Similarly, when livestock are forced to graze the same area continuously without relief, they become weaker, leading to long-term declines in the herd's health.

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