Examining the Effect of Drought on the Tribal Society of Sistan and Baloochestan Province and its Combating Ways

Drought indicates an unexpected decrease of rainfall within a certain time interval, in such a way that this decrease puts the adaptation of life system in danger. Since nomadism and the living dependent on it is considered a type of cultural adaptation of man with his environment. The drought phenomenon challenges living based on nomadism in a serious way because by nature it destroys balance and adaptation systems. Unfortunately wide sections of Iran including Sistan and Baloochesstan province have faced droughts since 1998. This happens while on the bases of census results of nomadic tribes the tribes of the province formed 5% of the whole population and included 9.6% of the tribal families in the country in 1998 and from this perspective it is considered the fourth province in which tribes have settled. Considering the continuity of drought phenomenon in the following years, which still continues, a considerable part of postures has been destroyed as the most important source of fodder for cattle and the cattle which form the economic base of tribal life has suffered irreparable damage. A reduction of its products has also followed or gotten lost. During these years the Bureau for tribal affairs and other related organization of the province have, of course, taken some steps which have been effective to some extent. The present paper explores the effects of drought on cattle affairs and the products at a provincial level and the steps taken by the department of tribes.