TED-Ed: This is how nomadic farmers live

This is how nomadic farmers live

For millennia, livestock farmers strategically guided animals to seasonal grazing areas. This mobile way of life, known as pastoralism, provided them with wealth, social status, and political independence into the 20th century. But in the last century, political and economic policies have worked against these communities. Take a closer look at the challenges of modern pastoralism. [Directed by Anton Bogaty, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Cem Misirlioglu, WORKPLAYWORK].

Mobile livestock farming, or pastoralism, has shaped societies for thousands of years, supporting hundreds of millions today across nearly every continent. In sub-Saharan Africa, these communities produce most of the continent's meat and milk, yet modern policies have increasingly limited their movement and resources. These restrictions have undermined both the resilience of herders and the health of the grasslands they manage. New grassroots efforts and reforms aim to restore traditional mobility and the vital ecological knowledge pastoralists offer.