How vagaries of climate change have pushed pastoralists of Isiolo County to crop farming

Madina Muhammed at her farm in Rapsu, Isiolo. [Kennedy Gachuhi, Standard]

The Borana people of Isiolo County are well known for pastoralism as their main economic activity, which doubles as a cultural practice. So embedded into their culture is livestock keeping that community members say farming is associated with poverty while livestock is considered an indication of wealth. However, a group of them has beaten the odds to engage in farming, citing climate change and the need for economic empowerment. In 1971, the National Irrigation Board (NIB) constructed the main canal at Rapsu in Kinna, the county's largest agro-pastoral zone.