Since I was born.

To whom does the land and water you are using for livestock belong?

The area of Touba where we live is a little special because of the presence of the Marabout[2] who controls the territory. The land we are using here is ours because we were here before the marabout’s family. The water is freely available here but once we start our transhumance, we have to pay for the water.

How would you describe transhumance in your region?  

Transhumance starts in December and ends in September of the next year. Depending on the season, we go to Kedougou [300km from the village] or to Tambacounda [500km from the village, in the South-East of Senegal]. It is necessary to carry out transhumance during dry season to look for grass but also to boost animal births. My animals left with my brother and his two sons. They are well equipped, they have two carts, one horse and cattle. Sometimes, some people come along with us because we have a purebred bull, so they hope to improve their herd thanks to him. Leaving in a group lets us mutualise forces and secure the livestock. On the way, we fertilise the farmers’ soil, thus, they don’t need to use chemical fertilisers and it can last for 2-3 years, it’s a win-win situation. But the farmers often forget about this as soon as the rainy season ends, it’s too bad… Yet farmers need herders. I grow some forage plants myself to cover the needs of my livestock that stayed in the village.

Have you witnessed some changes in transhumance during the last decade? 

I find it difficult to answer this question as it really varies from season to season. There are some years where all goes well and some years where the rainy season is late and then we have a high number of animal deaths.

How would you describe being a herder today?  

I am very happy to be a herder. Coming back home and seeing my family in good health, this is all I need.

What are the main difficulties pastoralists face in your region?  

There are many. There is a big progression of crops and constructions on pastoral areas. In particular during the wet season, there is no more passage to access water and pasture, so we are obliged to cross through crops and this is a source of conflict. Before, there was a big corridor here but now crop land is encroaching it.

Ilo Ba and one of his sons. Touba Loumbé, Diourbel region, Senegal, 2023. @FAO/Ivana Mardesic. 

Are young people interested in becoming pastoralists?  

I had a son who was studying but one month before the end of his studies, he decided to give up and become a herder. Children are interested in pastoralism. The women of my family studied also but they came back home and are now selling curdled milk. When one is born in a pastoral family, often, one remains a pastoralist.

How can public policies and interventions better help pastoralists?  

It saddens me that politicians get interested in pastoralists only during election times. They come, make promises in exchange of our vote and then disappear. We need scholarships and projects so that our children can find work with their diplomas. We would like to have better access to funding to invest and develop our activities.

We also need a fairer justice system. There are many cases of poisoned animals, but nothing happens, it remains unpunished and we are not allowed to settle the cases ourselves. In that case, we should be able to count on the authorities to resolve the conflicts. Often, when we cross crops in an unauthorised way, we have to pay a fine but the amount of it is written nowhere in the texts. We want to better know our rights and duties.

Finally, it is also necessary to electrify the area. It would keep away the thieves that steal our animals, and secure our family’s mobility.

Luckily, there is solidarity in the village.

Ilo Ba contact - +222 775742467