The government has set aside Sh2.7 billion for an animal feedlot project in Marsabit County to cushion pastoral communities from the ravages of perennial drought in the Arid and Semi-Arid Areas (ASALs),
Principal Secretary ASALs and Regional Development Kello Harsama announced during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Marsabit saying the funds were a relieve to livestock keepers who lost more than 2.5 million herds over the past five years.
“The livestock we have been relying on had been severely affected by drought in the past five years, drought has killed more than 2.5 million herds of cattle and 90 percent of these fatalities have been reported in ASAL areas,” said Harsama.
He pointed out that feedlot was a game changer for pastoralist communities since they would be economically empowered and loss of livestock due to drought would be a thing of the past.
“A way to empower pastoralists through what they go through every time, the struggles brought about by climate change, that is why the President directed we introduce feedlot in 31 counties to ensure that we don’t hear the death of livestock in these areas,” noted the PS.
Additionally, the PS said that feedlot would be introduced in 31 ASAL counties for livestock keepers’ prosperity since the project had many benefits including marketing and breed improvement.
“The issue of feedlot will further empower since the project comes with a lot of benefits including marketing and breed improvement, something that has never been done before,” revealed the PS.
Marsabit County Governor Ali Mohamud Mohamed lauded the feedlot project noting that livestock breeding would ensure pastoralists fetch good money in the market as opposed to now and revert the trend of livestock death during dry seasons.
“This is a great opportunity since in the last severe drought, in Marsabit, we lost over 70 percent of our livestock, the only possession we have. Those who lost their cattle are now living in poverty and changing their way of life by introducing feedlots, doing irrigation, and providing fodder. Whatever drought comes, we will preserve our animals,” said the county boss.
The project which Ewaso Ngiro North Development Authority is implementing in 5000 hectares of land, will further ensure Marsabit residents have access to water
Ewaso Ngiro North Development Authority Managing Director Eng. Ali Hassan said that they targeted to construction of more than five boreholes for Marsabit residents to practice farming and cease livestock dependability as their only source of livelihood.
He revealed that they expected to harvest more than two billion cubic litres of water from the five boreholes to be constructed in the vast Marsabit County.
Other benefits of the feedlot project will include, about 5,000 tonnes of fodder harvesting every season, two million assorted fruit trees, and farmers’ training on irrigation among others.
By Muturi Mwangi
