Ficus carica，which grows wild，is well adapted to conditions in the Peruvian highlands. In view of the increasing aridisation of the country，it has great potential for use. Photo：CIP

Pastoralists’ innovative responses to drought

Southern Ethiopia suffered a severe lack of rainfall between 1997 and 2000 and as a result experienced a major drought. Most of the livestock-the source of livelihood for most of the people of this region-died and the vegetation withered. Many people in the Horn of Africa lived for months on the verge of starvation.

In 2000 the Oxfam partner，Action for Development，purchased 120 camels，which are more drought-resistant than cattle because they only need water every ten days or so. As beasts of burden they can also be used for transporting water. Adde Lokko Aao describes what this means for the women：“The camels bring enough water for a number of households at a time. We women no longer have to carry water on our backs”. The women used to walk for 6-10 hours to bring back as much water as they could carry. Now that the camels do this work，the women can spend their time on other tasks. They can now care for their families and return to a variety of incomeearning activities. Moreover，the camels can also be used for ploughing if enough rain falls for seed to be planted. Looking after the camels is a man’s task. “Our men have started getting involved in the work of fetching water，which is normally the responsibility of women. We are pleased to witness that our camels have shared our burden，says the mother of six children（Oxfam，2002）.

Planet Earth is rich. It has many millions of species-plants，animals and micro-organisms. But biological diversity is being eroded，and species are becoming extinct at an alarming rate. The loss of biological diversity jeopardises the whole of mankind. This is especially true of the decline in agrobiodiversity，which is the resource base for our food.