Papers by Mulubrhan B Gebremikael
Special thanks to Uma Rani (ILO) for reflecting on the studies and contributing towards the concl... more Special thanks to Uma Rani (ILO) for reflecting on the studies and contributing towards the concluding remarks, and also to Professor Dawn Chatty for facilitating the engagement between the ILO and the University of Oxford. The publication further benefited from the English language editing by Richard Cook and his team. Special thanks also to Professor Heather Viles for her support for the publication. Finally, the publication would not have been possible without the encouragement of Shauna Olney
This study aimed to investigate the potentials and challenges of use of indigenous fodder trees a... more This study aimed to investigate the potentials and challenges of use of indigenous fodder trees and shrubs (IFTS) in intensive silvopastoral systems in northern Ethiopia. The results are based on different methods including laboratory analysis of nutritive value of fodder species preferred by local communities (Paper I), ethnobotanical survey with local communities, and comparison of local criteria and Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) based valuation of IFTS (Paper II), a socio-economic survey to assess the role of Ficus thonnignii (FT) based local silvopastoral system for climate change adaptation and livelihoods (Paper III), goat feeding trial experiment to assess the effect of replacing commercial concentrate by FT leaf meal on the
productivity of local goats (Paper IV), and finally a GIS and ground vegetation data analysis to assess the effect of resettlement on woody vegetation cover, diversity and abundance (Paper V). The results of the study show there are about 61 species in the Desert and Semi-Desert Scrub Land (DSDSL) Ab‘alá and 89 species in the Combretum-Terminalia Wood Land (CTWL) Tahtay-adiabo which can be used as source of fodder for livestock. The analyzed top preferred 32 species have nutritive contents within acceptable ranges for ruminants (Paper I). Local valuation of species was based on diverse set of criteria (n=20), and was not correlated with NIRS based nutritive valuation showing that most nutritious species are not always the most preferred by
local herders, implying that evaluation of species for introduction to small scale silvopastoral systems should not be based only on pure nutritive content. An integrated (NIRS and local) criteria was used to identify list of ‘adoptable’ species which fulfilled both local and laboratory requirements.These species include; Acacia etbica, Acacia toritllis, Acacia nilotica, Cordia gharaf, Ziziphus spina-chrisit for the Afars and Acacia etbica, Acacia tortillis, Acacia nilotica, Balanitis aegyptiaca, Cordia gharaf, Grewia bicolor, Grewia tenax, and Ziziphus spina-christi for Tigray (Paper II). An investigation of a local silvopastoral practice using F. thonningii, revealed a local strategy that enabled maintenance of environmental integrity while improving
livelihoods (Paper III). Replacement of commercial concentrates up to 50% by Ficus thonningii leaf meal in the diet of Ethiopian highland goats resulted in an increase in body weight gain and local meat quality indicators (Paper IV). An investigation of the effect of new resettlement schemes on the woody vegetation of semi-arid woodland revealed a declining woody cover, diversity and replacement of high fodder value multi-purpose species by low fodder value invasive species (Paper V).
This case study describes the use of diverse water harvesting and water saving technologies to mi... more This case study describes the use of diverse water harvesting and water saving technologies to mitigate the effects of recurrent drought, extreme weather and general decline in moisture availability in the arid and semi-arid Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. The technologies introduced include the use of 'protected' agriculture (e.g. greenhouse farming), and the use of plastic and stone-gravel mulching of farmlands. While the sand/gravel mulching has been a traditional practice of local farmers throughout history, the plastic mulch and the greenhouse farming are newly applied in the region. These technologies have been introduced mainly through government subsidies and other forms of support programs. Coupled with government’s diverse environmental policies for the region such as the National Forest Conservation Program (NFCP), the Grain for Green Program (GGP), land transfer policy, and the inter-basin water transfer programs, these have resulted in an increase in the overall income of local farmers, thereby leading to their widespread adoption since 1990s.
Case study, 2017
This case study describes the use of diverse water harvesting and water saving technologies to mi... more This case study describes the use of diverse water harvesting and water saving technologies to mitigate the effects of recurrent drought, extreme weather and general decline in moisture availability in the arid and semi-arid Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. The technologies
introduced include the use of 'protected' agriculture (e.g. greenhouse farming), and the use of plastic and stone-gravel mulching of farmlands. While the sand/gravel mulching has been a traditional practice of local farmers throughout history, the plastic mulch and the greenhouse
farming are newly applied in the region. These technologies have been introduced mainly through government subsidies and other forms of support programs. Coupled with government’s diverse
environmental policies for the region such as the National Forest Conservation Program (NFCP), the Grain for Green Program (GGP), land transfer policy, and the inter-basin water transfer programs, these have resulted in an increase in the overall income of local farmers, thereby
leading to their widespread adoption since 1990s.
Books by Mulubrhan B Gebremikael
Book Chapter , 2019
Traditional weather forecasting is a method applied by many indigenous communities worldwide to f... more Traditional weather forecasting is a method applied by many indigenous communities worldwide to forecast the weather and guide daily livelihood decisions and climate change adaptation measures. The aim of this study was to investigate and document traditional weather forecasting practices among the Afar pastoralists of north-eastern Ethiopia, using focused group discussions and individual interviews. The Afar traditionally predict weather and climate by observing diverse biophysical entities including livestock, insects, birds, trees and other wildlife. In addition, traditional seers, when consulted by local communities or individuals, also make “probabilistic predictions”. The biophysical indicators used in weather prediction are of different types. No single prediction is taken at face value; weather forecasting is a dynamic process whereby information is collected by traditional observation and prediction and triangulated with alternative sources of knowledge, including the formal meteorological weather forecasting system,1 so as to make the safest and best informed livelihood decisions. Before any forecasting information is applied, it first passes through three important traditional institutions that collect, share and analyze the information presented. These institutions are: (1) the“Edo”, or range scouting, where traditional rangeland scouts are sent out on a mission to assess the weather and other spatially and temporally variable factors, such as rangeland condition, security and others; (2) the “Dagu”, a traditional secure and reputable network where weather information is shared; and (3) the “Adda”, a group of village elders within the traditional Afar governance system who evaluate and weigh the pros and cons of the forecasting information before making livelihood decisions on behalf of the community.
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Papers by Mulubrhan B Gebremikael
productivity of local goats (Paper IV), and finally a GIS and ground vegetation data analysis to assess the effect of resettlement on woody vegetation cover, diversity and abundance (Paper V). The results of the study show there are about 61 species in the Desert and Semi-Desert Scrub Land (DSDSL) Ab‘alá and 89 species in the Combretum-Terminalia Wood Land (CTWL) Tahtay-adiabo which can be used as source of fodder for livestock. The analyzed top preferred 32 species have nutritive contents within acceptable ranges for ruminants (Paper I). Local valuation of species was based on diverse set of criteria (n=20), and was not correlated with NIRS based nutritive valuation showing that most nutritious species are not always the most preferred by
local herders, implying that evaluation of species for introduction to small scale silvopastoral systems should not be based only on pure nutritive content. An integrated (NIRS and local) criteria was used to identify list of ‘adoptable’ species which fulfilled both local and laboratory requirements.These species include; Acacia etbica, Acacia toritllis, Acacia nilotica, Cordia gharaf, Ziziphus spina-chrisit for the Afars and Acacia etbica, Acacia tortillis, Acacia nilotica, Balanitis aegyptiaca, Cordia gharaf, Grewia bicolor, Grewia tenax, and Ziziphus spina-christi for Tigray (Paper II). An investigation of a local silvopastoral practice using F. thonningii, revealed a local strategy that enabled maintenance of environmental integrity while improving
livelihoods (Paper III). Replacement of commercial concentrates up to 50% by Ficus thonningii leaf meal in the diet of Ethiopian highland goats resulted in an increase in body weight gain and local meat quality indicators (Paper IV). An investigation of the effect of new resettlement schemes on the woody vegetation of semi-arid woodland revealed a declining woody cover, diversity and replacement of high fodder value multi-purpose species by low fodder value invasive species (Paper V).
introduced include the use of 'protected' agriculture (e.g. greenhouse farming), and the use of plastic and stone-gravel mulching of farmlands. While the sand/gravel mulching has been a traditional practice of local farmers throughout history, the plastic mulch and the greenhouse
farming are newly applied in the region. These technologies have been introduced mainly through government subsidies and other forms of support programs. Coupled with government’s diverse
environmental policies for the region such as the National Forest Conservation Program (NFCP), the Grain for Green Program (GGP), land transfer policy, and the inter-basin water transfer programs, these have resulted in an increase in the overall income of local farmers, thereby
leading to their widespread adoption since 1990s.
Books by Mulubrhan B Gebremikael
productivity of local goats (Paper IV), and finally a GIS and ground vegetation data analysis to assess the effect of resettlement on woody vegetation cover, diversity and abundance (Paper V). The results of the study show there are about 61 species in the Desert and Semi-Desert Scrub Land (DSDSL) Ab‘alá and 89 species in the Combretum-Terminalia Wood Land (CTWL) Tahtay-adiabo which can be used as source of fodder for livestock. The analyzed top preferred 32 species have nutritive contents within acceptable ranges for ruminants (Paper I). Local valuation of species was based on diverse set of criteria (n=20), and was not correlated with NIRS based nutritive valuation showing that most nutritious species are not always the most preferred by
local herders, implying that evaluation of species for introduction to small scale silvopastoral systems should not be based only on pure nutritive content. An integrated (NIRS and local) criteria was used to identify list of ‘adoptable’ species which fulfilled both local and laboratory requirements.These species include; Acacia etbica, Acacia toritllis, Acacia nilotica, Cordia gharaf, Ziziphus spina-chrisit for the Afars and Acacia etbica, Acacia tortillis, Acacia nilotica, Balanitis aegyptiaca, Cordia gharaf, Grewia bicolor, Grewia tenax, and Ziziphus spina-christi for Tigray (Paper II). An investigation of a local silvopastoral practice using F. thonningii, revealed a local strategy that enabled maintenance of environmental integrity while improving
livelihoods (Paper III). Replacement of commercial concentrates up to 50% by Ficus thonningii leaf meal in the diet of Ethiopian highland goats resulted in an increase in body weight gain and local meat quality indicators (Paper IV). An investigation of the effect of new resettlement schemes on the woody vegetation of semi-arid woodland revealed a declining woody cover, diversity and replacement of high fodder value multi-purpose species by low fodder value invasive species (Paper V).
introduced include the use of 'protected' agriculture (e.g. greenhouse farming), and the use of plastic and stone-gravel mulching of farmlands. While the sand/gravel mulching has been a traditional practice of local farmers throughout history, the plastic mulch and the greenhouse
farming are newly applied in the region. These technologies have been introduced mainly through government subsidies and other forms of support programs. Coupled with government’s diverse
environmental policies for the region such as the National Forest Conservation Program (NFCP), the Grain for Green Program (GGP), land transfer policy, and the inter-basin water transfer programs, these have resulted in an increase in the overall income of local farmers, thereby
leading to their widespread adoption since 1990s.