Perception des aléas climatiques et stratégies de résilience des éleveurs bovins (Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758) en Territoire de Mahagi, Ituri (RDC)

Abstract

The Mahagi Territory (Ituri, DRC) is heavily dependent on cattle breeding (Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758) in a context of intensifying climatic hazards, characterized over the last two decades by increased rainfall variability, seasonal droughts and an increase in animal diseases, reinforcing the vulnerability of extensive systems. This study, conducted in six chiefdoms — Pandoro, Djukoth 1, War-Palara, Anghal 1, Mokambo — with 120 pastoralists selected by stratified random sampling, uses semi-structured questionnaires, individual interviews, focus groups, and descriptive and thematic statistical analyses to assess the perception of climate hazards and resilience strategies.

The results indicate that 87.5% of livestock farmers perceive a significant decrease in rainfall over ten years, 72.3% an increase in animal diseases and 64.1% a degradation of pastures. The most cited resilience strategies are seasonal livestock mobility (58.3%), income diversification (46.7%), use of crop residues (41.2%) and use of traditional or modern veterinary treatments (69.5%), although their adoption is limited by insufficient veterinary services, credit and climate information, highlighting the need for public policies for sustainable pasture management, increased support for livestock farming and the dissemination of local climate information.