A study on the livelihood patterns of nomadic households in drought conditions (Case Study: Tribal Families of Sistan and Balochistan Province)

The nomadic livelihood patterns are directly related to the conditions of their living environment, and so the main issue of the present article was how the situation of these patterns is in drought conditions between the Sistani and Balochistan tribes. Understanding this subject requires first identifying the patterns in the region; therefore, according to the findings of this study -that have been done with a combined methodological approach, using of various techniques including survey, observation, discussion, library studies, etc- it is now possible to name at least six major livelihood patterns in this region and among its tribes: 1) Livelihood pattern of ranch; 2) Livelihood pattern of farming; 3) Livelihood pattern based on local industries and by-products sales; 4) livelihood pattern of labor-based; 5) Livelihood pattern based on service activities; 6) livelihood pattern based on receiving government support. The results of the study show that the current livestock and agriculture among the semi-inhabitants of the region is practically a marginal and declining activity. Local industries, mainly produced by nomadic women, are often responsive to their own needs, but they are forced to sell a part of it to help the family, which of course has no significant income; the production of other by-products, such as the mat, which is directly dependent on environmental facilities, is also scarce. Subsequent droughts have brought nomads into activities that are not commensurate with their cultural identity and personality, and they do so in spite of their inner desire and satisfaction; these include laboring and other services such as grocery shopping, and so on. In addition, the nomads now find it very difficult to survive without government support, and they see every help from the support agencies as the savior of their lives.