Livestock population dynamics and pastoral communities’ adaptation to rainfall variability in communal lands of Kgalagadi South, Botswana

Rainfall variability is a problem in arid environments, and in this study, drought severity, impact of rainfall variability on livestock population and adaptation practices were investigated in Kgalagadi, Botswana. Data from the Department of Meteorological Services, Central Statistics Office and a structured questionnaire were collected and analysed. Kgalagadi district is highly vulnerable to recurring mild droughts. The livestock population, particularly the goat population, thus tends to be positively associated with mean annual precipitation. Though cattle also responded positively to mean annual rainfall, the relationship was not statistically significant and this could be due to the buffering impact of management practices. Pastoral farmers’ adaptation practices included destocking, supplementation and mobility. The current grazing policy which promotes fencing could therefore increase the pastoral farmers’ vulnerability to droughts, as it limits mobility.