EU pledges Sh20b for livestock development in 23 arid Kenyan counties

TURKANA, KENYA: The European Union (EU) has pledged to channel over Sh20 billion to 23 counties situated in arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) areas for livestock development, to address food insecurity.

The union, through the European Development Fund, will support the livestock sub-sector in ASAL counties by funding production of livestock pasture, improvement of breeds, construction of water pans and establish abattoirs.

Already the initiative has partially funded two livestock markets in Tangulbei and Amaya in East Pokot, Baringo County. The money was released by the EU, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV).

Speaking at Tangulbei, EU’s Head of Agriculture Section Mr Dominic Davoul said the union will address challenges facing arid areas, especially those afflicted by resource-related conflicts, to be food-secure.

Davoul said the cash will be channeled to help with completion of ongoing livestock development projects in order to enhance pastoral community resilience to drought, through innovative market-based systems.

Baringo Govenor Benjamin Cheboi hailed the partnership and attributed the persistent food insecurity in dry areas to low productivity and poor management of scarce resources.

LASTING SOLUTIONS

Cheboi also appealed to development partners for more funding to improve productivity in drought-afflicted areas.

“We applaud our development partners. The increased donor funding will be used to upgrade livestock, improve pasture development and management,” said Cheboi. He added that the money will also be used to initiate and expand irrigation schemes in ASAL areas.

The governor said that lasting solutions aimed at eradicating acute food shortages in arid counties such as Baringo should be created to avoid over reliance on relief food aid.

“We cannot sustain provision of relief food to hunger-stricken residents. That is why we are appealing to our development partners, donors and well-wishers to support our efforts towards instituting long-term measures to end perennial food insecurity,” said Cheboi. He said programmes such as Food for Assets should be embraced as way of enabling vulnerable residents get food.

Baringo has been grappling with food insecurity owing to biting drought in areas like East Pokot, Marigat and parts of Baringo North.

The county government has allocated Sh132.4 million to agriculture, livestock and fisheries in the 2014/2015 fiscal year to beef up food security.