KEEKENYOKIE: ADDING VALUE TO MA ASA I BEEF

摘要

The biggest humanitarian challenge facing sub-Saharan Africa is the recurring droughts due to climate change; impacts reached catastrophic levels in 2010. Kenya was hardest hit with at least 3.2 million people (mostly pastoralists) devastated while thousands of livestock died in most arid areas. The scale and magnitude of environmental decline in these dry lands is reaching alarming levels and this has been attributed to unsustainable livestock grazing systems. In response, the government and development agencies have intervened to sedentarize (settle nomadic populations), destock and develop water facilities to improve livestock productivity. This draws on the classical ranching models, along with formulation of policies aimed at substituting extensive pastoralism on communal rangelands with different production systems and livelihoods. However, these strategies have not improved the situation nor increased livestock productivity.