A survey on cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) utilization in Enderta Wereda, South Tigray

The study was conducted in Enderta Wereda, Southern Tigray with the aim of assessing the utilization of cactus as animal fodder. Three peasant associations, namely Illala, Messebo and Mahibere-Genet were selected based on their potential for cactus production and long time tradition in cactus feeding to livestock. A total of sixty four farmers were selected using simple random sampling technique and were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire to collect data on the feed situation of the area, type of cactus land ownership, the practice of cactus feeding to animals, problems in feeding cactus and traditional measures taken by farmers to solve problems associated with cactus feeding. Feeding cactus to animals is a long time tradition in the study area. All the interviewed farmers had private cactus land in their homestead and/or back yard. Two cactus types, namely spiny and spineless, were identified based on the presence or absence of spine. Almost all the respondents owned spineless cactus in their private holding. Spineless cactus is preferred to spiny type in feeding to animals for its ease to be consumed by animals and needs no extra time and labour for processing (burning and/or scrubbing). Farmers feed cactus to their animals in conjunction with cereal straws and hays during dry seasons and drought periods. The roughages are usually given prior to cactus to avoid diarrhea, which may arise due to cactus feeding. The farmers expose chopped cactus in open air for half a day to a week to reduce moisture content, and diarrhea arising thereof. Cactus also serves as water source especially during dry seasons and drought periods. However, feeding cactus causes bloating, diarrhea and even death owing to poor feeding management. To avoid these problems the farmers employ different traditional prevention methods. It is suggested that cactus helps in the regeneration of marginal lands where it serves as the mainstay for livestock feeding and thus serve as a permanent fodder resource instead of a strategic or reserve fodder to be used only during drought.