Livestock farming is one of the most important subsectors of the agricultural economy of developing nations. In Africa, mobile livestock keeping (MLK), or pastoralism, is crucial for rural livelihoods and food security, especially in the arid zones of the continent. With rapid urbanization and population growth, the demand for livestock products far outstrips supply. Climate change will exacerbate the situation because it will affect livestock production systems, and vice versa. This paper reviews the complex interaction between MLK and climate change, and proposes strategies to help sustain MLK as a key feature of rural livelihoods in Africa.
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