Problems of pastoral development in Eastern Africa

This paper contends that the major problem of development efforts in pastoral areas has been inappropriate and inadequate policies, not the ‘traditionalism’ of pastoralists or the inadequacies of administrators. Success in pastoral development will require increased understanding and consideration of a number of key issues (environmental and land tenure constraints, the meaning of ‘development’, the potential conflict between pastoralism and commercial beef production, assumptions regarding a ‘cattle complex’ and the dilemma between the individual and communal interests of pastoralists) so that relations between pastoralists and governments can be improved and better policies can be developed and implemented. The paper is based on research in eastern Africa, but the analysis may also apply to other regions.