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Perceptions of pastoralism
(University of East Anglia, 1974) Baker, Randall
This paper does not attempt a descriptive review of the social importance of cattle in Africa indeed one of the main points likely to emerge is that the basic data, in most cases, still remains to be collected. The purpose of the following discussion is to illustrate the way the social role of cattle has been perceived by the principal decision makers in range management and those who influenced them. i It will be argued that there exist two separate worlds, those of planner and planned; divided by a gulf of perception. The failure to bridge this gulf is a major contributory factor to the deplorable state of Africa`s rangeland at the present time as well as to the distressing impasse which exist between stock-keeper and administrator, planner or visiting expert. All too often a concision of cause, and effect in the interpretation of social factors has confounded those attempting to • introduce change, modernization and the market economy into pastoral areas. In frustration they blame the failure of their innovations on irrational, perverse or mystical behaviour, rather than on the deficiencies of their own interpretation. This is all the more exasperating to the planner for appearing to be a scorning of good intentions and a determination on the part of the pastoralists to bring about the total destruction of their own precarious environment.