NAIROBI, KENYA: The national government has factored in Sh2.3Billion towards interventions to mitigate drought in hunger-prone areas across the country.
The funds are aimed at creating short-term solutions to the biting hunger facing Kenyans in Arid and Semi- Arid lands (ASAL) counties especially in pastoral areas such as Baringo, Wajir, Turkana, Marsabit among other arid areas.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei said livestock keepers in pastoral communities were the worst hit by drought due to the drying up of pasture and rivers due to persistent drought leading to death of livestock.
Koskei in his speech read on his behalf by the Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr Khadija Kassachoon during the launch of Sh300Million national livestock off take program in Baringo County said livestock sector lost 72 per cent to drought.
The livestock off-take which targets over 100,000 emaciated livestock in Baringo county alone, will go a long way in cushioning the pastoralists against losses as a result of death of livestock.
He however raised concern that the worst might happen should the rains remain erratic saying that by August this year should the drought persist, up to 15 percent of the total population of cattle and small stock will be affected.
“The long-term solutions should include ensuring that livestock producers access forages, alternative livestock feeds and water and pastoralists should exercise early disposal of livestock before their health deteriorate,” he said.
The government in collaboration with African Development Bank (AfDK) in a Sh39Billion partnership, will finances 1,500 hectares of existing irrigation schemes, 74 water points,24 livestock markets.
Over 18 fodder banks will be established and 600 hectares of range land reseeding and also initiate disease-free zones and livestock export zones to boost export of livestock products.
The total losses incurred as a result of 2008/2011 drought is estimated to be over Sh968Billion including Sh64Billion destruction of assets and Sh904Billiuon flows of economy in all sectors.
Area Deputy Governor Mathew Tuitoek said the lack of water, drying up of rivers and vegetation was the greatest cause of the emaciation and death of livestock in semi-arid parts of the county such as East Pokot, Baringo North and parts of Mogotio.
He said the distance covered by the herders in search of water increased from the previous five kilometers to 10 Kilometers thus reducing the weight of the livestock thus reducing their value in market.
“The County government has allocated a total of Sh92Million to the livestock sub-sector and we have established hay-stock with a capacity of over 50,000 bales in all the six-sub-counties to ensure that livestock has adequate feeds,”
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