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Economics
The main economic activity of the Fulbe people is that of raising animals. Sheep and goats are bought and sold as a means of earning cash. Cattle are a measure of a man's wealth, a sort of "bank account". Only the direst circumstances force a family to sell cattle. The need for food to eat or a sick family member would not usually be considered a problem large enough to sell cattle.
The ideal of a Pullo ("Pullo" is the singular form of "Fulbe") is to allow the cattle herds to reproduce and herd size grow, therefore his wealth will increase. In recent history, this practice of unrestricted herd growth results in herds that can not be cared for during a drought. During these droughts, many animals died and often the Pullo was left in poverty. Because cattle are considered long term wealth, often they do receive the needed worming and medication because there is no immediate return for the money invested.
Milk is an important economic resource in some parts of Senegal. Unfortunately, the production of milk during the rainy season far surpasses the ability of most families to market it.
Some Fulbe families are now planting a few fields of millet, peanuts, or cowpeas. This practice was formerly looked down upon as only fit for a non-Fulbe, but economic pressures have forced the Fulbe to think differently.
Nomadic herding as a way of life is under great pressure and the number of true nomads continues to decline. For the Fulbe Jeeri the growing number of sedentary farmers and the decrease in grazing area limits the movement of herds. Their increasing numbers and the growing number of animals combined with an increasingly fragile environment is a great threat to their traditional way of life.
Drought, while a problem for any people, is particularly damaging to the Fulbe economy. Their livelihood is based directly on the health of their herds. Even if they move to an area less affected by drought, they will still lose a large percentage of their animals. If they try to liquidate their herds, the prices will be very low because of a flooded market. They will receive only a token amount for their animals. Once a herd is lost it will take years to rebuild it. Unlike a sedentary farmer who is affected by a drought for a single year, the Fulbe will be impacted for many years. Of course, a drought will also affect the other economic elements of the Fulbe Jeeri, crops and milk production, leaving them with no source of income.