Too Many People and Too Few Livestock in West Africa? An Evaluation of Sandford's Thesis

• Published in: The Journal of development studies Vol. 45; no. 7; pp. 1113 - 1133
• Main Authors: Moritz, Mark, Kyle, Britney R., Nolan, Kevin C., Patrick, Steve, Shaffer, Marnie F., Thampy, Gayatri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01-08-2009; Taylor and Francis Journals; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Series: The Journal of Development Studies
• Subjects: Africa; Comparative Analysis; Developing countries; Economic development; Economic integration; Economic theory; Evaluation; Generalization; LDCs; Livestock; Pastoral Societies; Pastoralism; Pastures; Social Integration; Strategic planning; Sudan; West Africa; West Africa
• ISSN: 0022-0388; 1743-9140
• DOI: 10.1080/00220380902811058

We examine whether Stephen Sandford's (
2006
b) 'too many people, too few livestock' thesis for the Greater Horn of Africa applies to West Africa. In a comparative study of seven pastoral systems across West Africa we found that pastoralists have generally successfully adapted to pressures on grazing resources. We describe three adaptive strategies: 1) integration and intensification in the Sudanian zone; 2) movement to the Sub-Humid zone; and 3) extensification in the Sahelian zone. We end by proposing four interrelated factors that account for the differences in pastoral systems between West Africa and the Greater Horn of Africa.