Gis Applications in Suitability Modeling for Livestock Production in Tana Sub Basin-Blue Nile River Basin , Ethiopia
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Date
2004-07
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
Proper use of the land depends on the suitability of land for specific purposes. It
is indeed of paramount importance to identify suitable land for livestock
production while causing minimum impact to the environment. In this study, an
attempt was made to identify suitable areas for livestock production using GIS
methodology.
Spatial modeling techniques are utilized to generate the land suitability model.
The model is run in ArcGIS platform by using evaluation criteria: land use/land
cover, soil classification slope and water availability through multicriteria
decision marking rules. The model results revealed that 40.5% of the study area
is most suitable for livestock production. In addition, 30% of the sub basin is
indeed moderately suitable for animal production. Further, 8% of the study area
is identified to be least suitable. On the other hand, areas that are found to be
currently not suitable and permanently not suitable are 0.2% and 0.1%
respectively.
Tana sub basin is optimally located on suitable land for livestock production.
That is, most of the basin is covered by optimal land use land cover, gentle slope,
fertile soil type, and optimal water availability. However, the current livestock
distribution exists on unsuitable areas.
The results of the NDVI indices indicate that the basin has available feed source
for animal production especially in the rainy season whereas in the dry season
crop residue could serve as a feed source for the livestock.
Furthermore, water availability is the most important factor that determines
livestock production. Under this study, water availability is analyzed using
buffering tools in a GIS. The results depict that most of the study areas are
accessible or proximal to water resources (lakes, water points, and rivers) for
livestock drinking. That is, most of the water resources are accessible for
livestock production within the study area. This output indeed could be used as
a method for assessing livestock water productivity in the basin.
Keywords: GIS, Suitability Model, Water Availability, Feed, Livestock, Tana
Sub Basin, Blue Nile
Description
Keywords
GIS, Suitability Model, Water Availability, Feed, Livestock, Tana Sub Basin, Blue Nile