INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE FOR RESILIENCE AND ADAPTATION IN PASTORAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM OF SOMALI REGIONAL STATE IN ETHIOPIA

The study attempts to highlight the importance and opportunities of indigenous knowledge for resilience and adaptation of the pastoral production system in the Sheygosh woreda of Somali region of Ethiopia. The study used data from primary and secondary sources. The primary data collected through key informants, focus group discussions, observations, ranking, and life history. The study highlights the fact that indigenous knowledge for resilience and adaptation contributes to reducing of vulnerability results from climate variability and also plays a critical role in adaptation, mitigation and coping with hazards and shocks in the past time. However, due to recurrent hazards and prolonged shocks and climate change, the use of traditional knowledge of coping mechanisms are under tremendous threats and will not be viable and sustainable in the coming years. In conclusion, the indigenous knowledge in the pastoral community deserves to recognize and support in view of their coping with, adapting to and withstand to hazard and climate chance. Thus, it needs to integrate in policies of the country.