Camel forage in Karamoja, Uganda

A study on “Camel forage variety in the Karamoja sub-region, Uganda” (published in Pastoralism Research, Policy and Practice 2017 7:8 DOI: 10.1186/s13570-017-0080-6) assessed and characterised the range of forage species available for camels in Amudat and Moroto Districts of Karamoja. The species were identified in 20×20 m vegetation plots in four land-cover types: woodland, bushland, grassland and farmland. Through a survey of 52 camel herders, camels’ preferences for forage species were documented. High species richness and diversity were found in the bushland and woodland areas. A wide range of plant species were browsed by camels in the study area: 63 in Amudat and 50 in Moroto District, especially Balanites, Euphorbia and several Acacia species. The study recommends increased camel rearing in the Karamoja area to increase pastoralist communities’ resilience to climate variability and change. It suggests that camel-herders should conserve and deliberately grow preferred forage species such as Euphorbia tirucalli, which is easy to propagate. This browse could support the milking herd and camel calves that remain at the homesteads while the main herd moves further distances.

Posted on 22 April 2017 in Pastoralism & Natural Resources