Cow Economy: Reconstituting the Balalo Cow Economy Debate
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Date
2023-04-01
Authors
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Volume Title
Publisher
RM Transitional Communities Research Discussion Paper Series.
Abstract
Drawing from the current debate on nomadic pastoralists,
particularly on the Balalo, we observe that the bigger problem
is that, the Balalo and the nomadic pastoralists’ cow economy,
are not able to articulate the rationale of their occupation from
a policy language. Besides, nomadic pastoralist economy has
since been an informal and not a formal sector and
consequently, not understood and considered therefore as
economically unviable. We argue that nomadic pastoralist
economy is nevertheless, a system that is not anarchic or
backward and therefore, not different from other modes of the
economy. As a system, it is coherent and rational, with
different parts, including a grazing corridor, which once
disturbed results into multiple challenges. This is what we are
witnessing today, with the case of the Balalo nomadic
pastoralists. Similarly, the social, economic and ecological
features that enable pastoralist economy and the contribution
of the pastoralists to the national economy cannot be
considered in isolation, because it is an integrated system. The
indigenous economy and knowledge as well as scientific /
capitalist economy and knowledge, are all co-existent within
the landscape of cow economy. For example, the ecological
value of cow and animal movements has been observed as
extremely important. Consequently, there is a need to
establish: Uganda Livestock Authority (ULA) and a
research based Uganda Livestock Research Institute
(ULRI), to reinforce the appreciation of nomadic pastoralists
as well as, cow economy.
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Uganda
Citation
Komakech, Daniel. (2023). Cow Economy: Reconstituting the Balalo Cow Economy Debate. Royal Miles Transitional Justice Governance Discussion Paper Series.https://ir.gu.ac.ug/xmlui/handle/20.500.14270/321