Gaining from donkey work
Nov 09, 2010
AS the sky turns cloudy, an indigo haze descends on Wagagai, the highest peak of Mt. Elgon National Park, in eastern Uganda. It is threatening to rain, forcing Martin Cherop, 25, to race down the rough hilly terrain leading a donkey carrying over 100kg of maize.
BY FREDERICK WOMAKUYU
AS the sky turns cloudy, an indigo haze descends on Wagagai, the highest peak of Mt. Elgon National Park, in eastern Uganda. It is threatening to rain, forcing Martin Cherop, 25, to race down the rough hilly terrain leading a donkey carrying over 100kg of maize.
His only concern is getting wet and not the means of transport getting stuck in the mostly impassable and muddy roads. “My donkey can easily move through any terrain. It can climb steep slopes and also travel through impassable paths without any problem,†says Cherop.
A resident of Chesimat Village, located on the remote edges of the park, the donkey is the most reliable means of transport that can access the area. Cherop uses his donkey to carry firewood, water and other kinds of luggage across the mountainous terrain.
Sebei region comprises Kapchorwa, Kween and Bukwo districts, lying along the steep edges of Mt. Elgon Park.
Due to the poor road network in the region, donkeys are the commonest means of transport, and almost every home in Sebei, owns one.
When used for cultivation, it can plough over an acre of land in a day. However, Cherop says he uses it, together with three bulls, to cultivate over five acres of land in a day. He adds that it can travel over 100km in 12 hours without getting tired, making it the ideal “beast of burdenâ€.
“It can carry over 150kg of goods and move a distance of about 50km without drinking water. It is an obedient animal that will carry anything without complaining, as long as it is fed well on grass and given water,†he explains.
In Sebei, donkeys are also bred for income-generation.
An adult one costs between sh150, 000 and 200,000. It can also be hired out to carry luggage and cultivate gardens at sh20,000 an acre.
Characteristics of donkeys Donkeys appear to be quite intelligent, cautious, friendly, playful, and eager to learn.
A donkey can be called by its owner by a specific name and it comes. It can also tell time by neighing at the top of every hour.
“This is how we tell time here,†explains Allan Chemusto, another donkey owner in Bukwo. “It neighs both at night and day time.â€
The loud noise also helps it to keep in contact with other donkeys over the wide distances. A donkey’s neigh can be heard over three kilometres away. They also have large ears which pick up distant sounds and may help cool the donkey’s blood.
Donkeys defend themselves through powerful kicks of their hind legs, as well as, biting and striking with the front hooves. Also, a donkey can never allow its offspring to carry luggage when it is not carrying anything itself.
“A donkey has a lifespan of over 20 years. When it dies, it is buried like a human being, or at times, burnt to avoid spread of diseases,†says Chemusto.
Giving birth
Cherop says a donkey takes about 12 months to produce, and it produces one offspring at a time. Twins are rare.The offspring feed on milk for two months before being weaned to hard grass and other foods available.
Feeding
Cherop says a donkey must eat food twice its weight and drink water a third its weight a day. Because grass is easily available on the edges of Mt. Elgon National Park, he feeds his donkey on grass and water on a free range system. The main food is grass, hay, maize stalks or sugarcane stalks. Humans do not drink donkey milk because it is bitter. Its meat is also bitter and red.
Number in Uganda
The agriculture ministry estimates that Uganda has about 200,000 donkeys, with Sebei region having about 80,000.
Challenges of donkeys
Cherop explains that donkeys sometimes suffer from diseases, such as pneumonia and diet-related diseases that may be difficult to treat due to lack of drugs, or veterinary experts to treat them.
AS the sky turns cloudy, an indigo haze descends on Wagagai, the highest peak of Mt. Elgon National Park, in eastern Uganda. It is threatening to rain, forcing Martin Cherop, 25, to race down the rough hilly terrain leading a donkey carrying over 100kg of maize.
His only concern is getting wet and not the means of transport getting stuck in the mostly impassable and muddy roads. “My donkey can easily move through any terrain. It can climb steep slopes and also travel through impassable paths without any problem,†says Cherop.
A resident of Chesimat Village, located on the remote edges of the park, the donkey is the most reliable means of transport that can access the area. Cherop uses his donkey to carry firewood, water and other kinds of luggage across the mountainous terrain.
Sebei region comprises Kapchorwa, Kween and Bukwo districts, lying along the steep edges of Mt. Elgon Park.
Due to the poor road network in the region, donkeys are the commonest means of transport, and almost every home in Sebei, owns one.
When used for cultivation, it can plough over an acre of land in a day. However, Cherop says he uses it, together with three bulls, to cultivate over five acres of land in a day. He adds that it can travel over 100km in 12 hours without getting tired, making it the ideal “beast of burdenâ€.
“It can carry over 150kg of goods and move a distance of about 50km without drinking water. It is an obedient animal that will carry anything without complaining, as long as it is fed well on grass and given water,†he explains.
In Sebei, donkeys are also bred for income-generation.
An adult one costs between sh150, 000 and 200,000. It can also be hired out to carry luggage and cultivate gardens at sh20,000 an acre.
Characteristics of donkeys Donkeys appear to be quite intelligent, cautious, friendly, playful, and eager to learn.
A donkey can be called by its owner by a specific name and it comes. It can also tell time by neighing at the top of every hour.
“This is how we tell time here,†explains Allan Chemusto, another donkey owner in Bukwo. “It neighs both at night and day time.â€
The loud noise also helps it to keep in contact with other donkeys over the wide distances. A donkey’s neigh can be heard over three kilometres away. They also have large ears which pick up distant sounds and may help cool the donkey’s blood.
Donkeys defend themselves through powerful kicks of their hind legs, as well as, biting and striking with the front hooves. Also, a donkey can never allow its offspring to carry luggage when it is not carrying anything itself.
“A donkey has a lifespan of over 20 years. When it dies, it is buried like a human being, or at times, burnt to avoid spread of diseases,†says Chemusto.
Giving birth
Cherop says a donkey takes about 12 months to produce, and it produces one offspring at a time. Twins are rare.The offspring feed on milk for two months before being weaned to hard grass and other foods available.
Feeding
Cherop says a donkey must eat food twice its weight and drink water a third its weight a day. Because grass is easily available on the edges of Mt. Elgon National Park, he feeds his donkey on grass and water on a free range system. The main food is grass, hay, maize stalks or sugarcane stalks. Humans do not drink donkey milk because it is bitter. Its meat is also bitter and red.
Number in Uganda
The agriculture ministry estimates that Uganda has about 200,000 donkeys, with Sebei region having about 80,000.
Challenges of donkeys
Cherop explains that donkeys sometimes suffer from diseases, such as pneumonia and diet-related diseases that may be difficult to treat due to lack of drugs, or veterinary experts to treat them.