Garissa County government has launched an aggressive rangeland management programme that will be managed by the communities.
Agriculture CEC Mohamed Shale said the programme, dubbed ‘Accelerated Institutional, Food System and Development’ (AIFSP), is a joint venture with International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
Speaking today when he officially opened participatory rangeland management workshop at a Garissa hotel, Shale said that the programme was aimed at driving profitability in livestock production in Garissa County.
The CEC said that with the support from the key partner, the county government would ensure that the programme was fully implemented.
“We are committed as the county government to ensure that this programme will succeed. With the support of our key partner, we shall do what is humanly possible to bring the programme to successful conclusion,” Shale said.
”In the past, our communities were organized and had grazing patterns that ensured enough pasture and water for livestock. We lost this glory after deviating from the trend,” he added.
Shale said a participatory range management and creation of guiding principles for community rangeland governance would be used as necessary tools towards the success of the programme.
The CEC said the training of trainers (ToTs) would assist the county personnel to develop the skills and capacity on various technologies, innovations and management practices in participatory rangeland management.
He said that the political leadership, women, youth and community opinion leaders would also be sensitized on the reactivation of the programme.
“We want to bring our leaders on board. They play a crucial role in mobilization of the community that guarantees the success of such a crucial programme,” he said.
The CEC said that the sensitization of the programme would be cascaded down to the ward levels.
Present were AIFSP Regional Coordinator Aden Abdi, County Programme Coordinator Dr Abubakar Siraji and Deputy Director for Livestock Siyat Onle, Sub County Livestock Production Officers, officials from Department of Environment, Kefri, and Mercy Corp among other organizations.
By Jacob Songok
