Geography · Ch 4 — Primary Activities
Pastoralism
Pastoralism
Pastoralism emerged when early humans realised that hunting alone could not sustain them. Instead of killing wild animals, they began to domesticate them. The animals chosen for domestication depended on the climate and geography of the region. Over time, animal rearing developed into two broad streams: one at the subsistence level and the other at the commercial level.
Nomadic Herding (Pastoral Nomadism)
Nomadic herding is a primitive subsistence activity. Herders depend entirely on their animals for food, clothing, shelter, tools, and transport. They move from place to place with their livestock, guided by the availability of pastures and water. Each nomadic community traditionally occupies a well-defined territory.
Animals reared in different regions:
| Region | Main Animals |
|---|---|
| Tropical Africa | Cattle |
| Sahara and Asiatic deserts | Sheep, goats, camel |
| Tibet and Andes | Yak and llamas |
| Arctic and sub-Arctic areas | Reindeer |
Three major regions of pastoral nomadism:
- The core region stretches from the Atlantic shores of North Africa, eastward across the Arabian peninsula, into Mongolia and Central China.
- The second region covers the tundra of Eurasia.
- In the southern hemisphere, small areas exist in South-west Africa and on the island of Madagascar.
Movement patterns:
Herders move in search of pastures either over vast horizontal distances or vertically from one elevation to another in mountainous areas. The seasonal migration from plains to mountain pastures in summer and back to the plains in winter is called transhumance.
In the Himalayas, communities like the Gujjars, Bakarwals, Gaddis, and Bhotiyas practise transhumance. In the tundra, herders move south to north in summer and north to south in winter.
Decline of pastoral nomadism:
The number of pastoral nomads and the area they operate have been shrinking. Two main reasons are:
- Imposition of political boundaries that restrict free movement.
- New settlement plans introduced by different countries.
Commercial Livestock Rearing
Unlike nomadic herding, commercial livestock rearing is organised and capital-intensive. It is closely associated with western cultures and is practised on permanent ranches.
Key features:
- Ranches cover large areas and are divided into fenced parcels. Grazing is regulated — when one parcel is grazed, animals are moved to another.
- The number of animals in a pasture is kept according to its carrying capacity.
- It is a specialised activity: only one type of animal is reared — sheep, cattle, goats, or horses. …