Ch 5.3 What are the characteristics of nomadic herding in the Sahel?

Question 1

Where is the Sahel?

Answer 1

1. It is the strip of land at the southern edge of the Sahara Desert in Africa.
2. It extends over 6000km from east to west across Africa and is 400-600km wide.
3. It lies approximately between 11.N and 20.N.
4. It is the transitional zone between the Sahara Desert to the north (drier) and the Savanna to the south (wetter).

Question 2

What are the characteristics of the climate of Sahel?

Answer 2

1. High annual mean temperature & Medium annual range of temperature.
2. Annual rainfall is low/scarity.
3. Seasonal pattern of rainfall: Rainfall concentrates in summer months only.
4. Rainfall is variable and unrealistic. It may be wet in one year and then very dry in other years.

Question 3

Elaborate more on high annual mean temperature & Medium annual range of temperature as one of the characteristics of the climate of Sahel.

Answer 3

1. High evapotranspiration rate.
2. Relative humidity decreases .
3. Rainfall decreases.
4. Drought./ Water deficit throughout the year.

Question 4

Elaborate on low annual rainfall as one of the characteristics of the climate of Sahel.

Answer 4

Sahel is hot and dry throughout the year. (between 200mm -600mm)

Question 5

Elaborate on concentration of rainfall in summer months as one of the characteristics of the climate of Sahel.

Answer 5

From May to Oct.
Reason:
In summer, onshore winds from the south cannot penetrate inland and lost most of the moisture when they reach the Sahel.
In winter, offshore winds below from the Sahara Desert carry little or no moisture.

Question 6

Elaborate on variable and unrealistic rainfalls as one of the characteristics of the climate of Sahel.

Answer 6

Less than average rainfall for many years in the last 5 decades.

Question 7

What are the physical constraints because of the harsh climate environment?

Answer 7

1. High evaporation rate.
2. Water shortage due to unreliable rainfall -> drought -> inefficient irrigation.
3. Short growing season.
4. Hinder sedentary crop growing.

Question 8

What are the characteristics of relief and drainage?

Answer 8

1. Low relief.
2. Poor drainage: river.
3. Poor drainage: lake.
4. Mainly thin and infertile sandy soils.
5. Sparsely distributed vegetation.
6. Type of vegetation: grassland and thorny shrubs.

Question 9

Elaborate on low relief as one of the characteristics of the relief and drainage of Sahel.

Answer 9

Highlands are only found in the area west of the River Nile.

Question 10

Elaborate on poor drainage: river as one of the characteristics of the relief and drainage of Sahel.

Answer 10

Only 2 major rivers cover a small area: The River Niger and the River Nile -> lack of alluvial soil in the River Valley.

Question 11

Elaborate on poor drainage: lake as one of the characteristics of the relief and drainage of Sahel.

Answer 11

The size of the largest lake Chad has shrunk by 90% since the 1980s.

Question 12

What are the physical constraints led by the poor drainage of lake and river?

Answer 12

1. Water shortage.
2. No large rivers.
3. Shrinking lake size
   Hence, inefficient irrigation.
4. Hinders sedentary crop growing.

Question 13

Elaborate on mainly thin and infertile sandy soils as one of the characteristics of the relief and drainage of Sahel.

Answer 13

Cannot support dense vegetation low soil moisture => low carrying capacity.

Question 14

Elaborate on sparsely distributed vegetation, grassland and thorny shrubs as one of the characteristics of the relief and drainage of Sahel.

Answer 14

1. Little water vapour transpired ( low relative humidity)
   -> Low rainfall.
   -> Drought.
2. May lead to large amount of surface run-off during intense rainfall
   -> Serious soil erosion
   -> Lose nutrient further.

Question 15

What are the physical constraints caused by mainly thin and infertile sandy soils, sparsely distributed vegetation, grassland and thorny shrubs?

Answer 15

1. Infertile soil.
2. Easily eroded.
3. Sparse vegetation.
4. Poor crop yield.
5. Not enough to sustain livestock rearing.

Question 16

What are the socio-economic characteristics of Sahel?

Answer 16

1. Large population, fast population growth.
2. Low literacy rate/ education level.
3. Low income level.
4. Mainly agriculture employment structure.
5. Low economic development.
6. Unstable political condition

Question 17

Elaborate on large population/ fast population growth rate as one of the socio-economic characteristics.

Answer 17

1. Higher annual growth rate of population than the world average.
2. Large demand for food.

Question 18

Elaborate on low literacy rate/ education level, low income level, agriculture employment structure and low economic development as socio-economic characteristics.

Answer 18

1. Lack the knowledge, skills and capital to improve agriculture.
2. Not able to use farming technologies to increase production.
3. Income per capita is low.
4. The economic development of the region is low.

Question 19

What are the socio-economic constraints caused by low literacy rate?

Answer 19

1. Low level of education and technology.
2. Cannot apply modern technologies to increase crop yields.

Question 20

Elaborate on unstable political situation as socio-economic characteristics.

Answer 20

Social unrest and conflict hinder the agricultural and economic development of the region.

Question 21

What are the socio-economic constraints caused by low income level, agricultural employment structure, low economic development and unstable political situation?

Answer 21

1. Poverty.
2. The people and the countries are poor.
3. Lack of capital to adopt the culture inputs to improve farm yields.
   Hence, low carrying capacity.

Question 22

What is the agriculture activity in Northern Sahel?

Answer 22

Nomadic Herding.

Question 23

What is the agriculture activity in Southern Sahel?

Answer 23

Sedentary farming/ arable farming.

Question 24

What is nomadic herding?

Answer 24

1. It is a traditional form of animal husbandry in which herders continuously move their livestock across vast areas in search of fresh grazing land and water resources.
2. It is commonly practiced in arid or semi-arid regions where the availability of natural resources are limited.

Question 25

What is transhumance?

Answer 25

1. Transhumance is a seasonal movement of livestock between different grazing grounds.
2. Transhumant herders have permanent settlements and follow a more structured pattern of migration.
3. They move their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures, taking advantage of the availability of forage and climatic conditions.

Question 26

What is agro-pastoral farming?

Answer 26

1. Agro-pastoral farming involves the integration of livestock rearing with agricultural practices.
2. It is a sedentary form of agriculture where farmers cultivate crops and raise livestock simultaneously.
3. The farmers allocate a portion of their land to grow crops, such as grains or forage, which serve as feed for their livestock.
   *Not equal to mixed farming as livestock is moved to and reared in the common pastures around the villages where agro-pastoralists live.

Question 27

What are the characteristics of nomadic herding?

Answer 27

1. Migration of herds.
2. Variety of animal species.
3. Controlling the size of the herd.
4. Low farm output.

Question 28

Elaborate on migrate of herds as one of the characteristics of nomadic herding.

Answer 28

1. Move their herds from one place to another for pastures and water.
2. When the water and pasture are exhausted in a place, they migrate to new pastureland.
3. The old site will be left fallow for soil to recover its nutrients and water, and thereby providing enough time for grassland regeneration. -> is a balanced system/ sustainable farming.

Question 29

Elaborate on variety of animal species as one of the characteristics of nomadic herding.

Answer 29

1. Different animals eat different types of plants.
2. Keeping a variety of animals can:
   Prevent the complete consumption of any one particular plant species.
   Provide a rich mix of dairy production at different times.

Question 30

Elaborate on controlling the size of the herd as one of the characteristics of nomadic herding.

Answer 30

When there is inadequate rainfall or when drought occurs, they will reduce the size of the herd. When vegetation conditions become favourable, they will enlarge the herds again. The rough grasses can grow well and the ecological balance can be maintained.

Question 31

Elaborate on low farm output as one of the characteristics of nomadic herding.

Answer 31

The harsh natural environment and low cultural inputs mean that the average farm output per unit area is low in the Sahel.

Question 32

What are the physical inputs of the nomadic herding system?

Answer 32

1. Climate: High annual mean air temperature.
2. Thin, infertile and sandy soil.
3. Scattered grass and thorny shrubs for vegetation.
4. Herds.

Question 33

What are the cultural inputs of the nomadic herding system?

Answer 33

1. Labour.
2. Simple and traditional technology.
3. Little capital and energy.

Question 34

What are the processes of nomadic herding system?

Answer 34

1. Grazing.
2. Watering.
3. Milking.
4. Processing dairy products ( All done by hand )

Question 35

What are the outputs of nomadic herding system?

Answer 35

Milk, wheat and hides (Low amount of output)

Question 36

What are the types of farming of nomadic herding?

Answer 36

1. Pastoral.
2. Extensive.
3. Subsistence.
4. Non-sedentary.
5. Low-technology.

Question 37

What are the characteristics of sedentary farming in the Southern Sahel?

Answer 37

1. Depending on rain (rain fed) due to higher annual rainfall.
2. Growing drought-resistance crops.
3. Allowing herds from the north to feed on the crop residues, so that the droppings of the herds can fertilize the farmland.
4. Adopting the traditional way of farming.
   As long as crops are grown within the carrying capacity of the region, sedentary farming does not disturb the ecological system -> sustainable farming.

Question 38

What has happened to the Sahel in recent years?

Answer 38

1. The amount of natural vegetation is decreasing -> Soil is becoming depleted of nutrients.
2. Soil erosion has become serious (Topsoil is blown away) -> Land has become degraded.
3. The land gradually become unproductive -> Barren Ground.
4. Desertification.

Question 39

What are the impacts of desertification?

Answer 39

1. Reduces the carrying capacity of the Sahel Region.
2. Food insecurity.
3. Loss of biodiversity.
4. Displacement of communities.

Question 40

How do human cause the problem of desertification?

Answer 40

1. Increase in population.
2. Growth of transport network.
3. Expansion of cash crops.
4. Sedentarisation of agriculture.

Question 41

Elaborate on increase in population as one of the causes of desertification.

Answer 41

1. The Sahel has a rapid increase in population due to increase in birth and decrease in death rates.
2. Large population demands for more food like crop growing and livestock rearing and land resources.

Question 42

Elaborate on growth of transport network as one of the causes of desertification.

Answer 42

1. The improvements in transports allow crops and cattle to be sold to cities and distant markets.
2. Nomadic people and farmers are encouraged to rear more livestock and practice monoculture.

Question 43

Elaborate on expansion of cash crops as one of the causes of desertification.

Answer 43

Farmers were encouraged to cultivate groundnuts as an export cash crop to finance food imports.

Question 44

Elaborate on sedentarisation of agriculture (replacement of nomadism by sedentary agriculture) as one of the causes of desertification.

Answer 44

1. Land formerly use by nomads has been enclosed for cultivation of cash crops (for poverty rights, collecting tax and exercising governance)
2. Nomadic people carrying out farming on the pastureland.
3. Reducing the carrying capacity for grazing and cultivation.

Question 45

What is over-cultivation?

Answer 45

When cultivation has been excessively practised over the carrying capacity of the land.

Question 46

What are the consequences of over-cultivation?

Answer 46

Farmers grow too many crops in poor soil/ grow the same crops on the same piece of land year by year. -> shorten the fallowing period.-> soil moisture and nutrients are depleted. -> soil becomes infertile. -> crops cannot grow. -> Farmers abandon land. -> Soil is left barren. -> Soil is exposed to continual erosion from erosion agent (e.g. wind and water) -> Lower land productivity. -> Land degradation. -> Desertification. -> Upset ecological balance.
Hence, Farmers open up more drylands. (Vicious cycle).

Question 47

What is over-grazing?

Answer 47

When the number of livestock exceeds the carrying capacity of the pastureland.

Question 48

What are the consequences of overgrazing?

Answer 48

Pasture used up quickly than it can regrow. -> Animals trample the soil. -> Soil is destroyed and completed (tougher for roots and rainwater to penetrate). -> Reduce soil porosity. -> Without vegetation cover. -> Soil is left barren. -> Soil is exposed to continual erosion rom erosion agent (i.e. wind and water). -> Lower land productivity. -> land degradation. -> Desertification. -> Upset ecological balance.

Question 49

What is the process of sedentarisation of agriculture?

Answer 49

1. In order to get taxes from the nomadic people, the local governments in the Sahel have encouraged nomadic people to become sedentary pastoralists.
2. Many local governments dig boreholes to tap water from underground to increase water supply for nomadic people.
3. More livestocks eat the grass and trample the land.
4. Overgrazing.
5. Upset the ecological balance around boreholes.

Question 50

What are the consequences of misuse of water resources?

Answer 50

1. Overpumping of wells causes a decline in the water table.
2. People have to dig deeper boreholes.
   When the water is used up in the area,
3. Soil moisture decreases.
4. Soil becomes dry and infertile.
5. Lower land producitivity.
6. Land degradation.
7. Desertification.
8. Further upset the ecological balance.