As heavy rains pound parts of the country, livestock are dying in other areas due to prolonged drought.
According
to a November 2016 report published by the National Drought Management
Authority, pastoralists in arid regions have suffered huge losses.
Last
month, livestock deaths were reported in Garissa, specifically in
Ijara, Isiolo (in Oldonyiro, Garbatulla and Kinna) as well as in Kilifi,
Kwale, Lamu, Marsabit, Tana River and Taita Taveta.
Climate
change is to blame. Research findings released at a climate change
conference in Dar es Salaam a few weeks ago show that pastoralists and
livestock keepers are most hurt by climate change.
“In
the Horn of Africa, arid and semi-arid areas account for more than 60
per cent of the total surface area, with a pastoral population of
between 12 million and 22 million people,” stated a World Bank 2014
report.
In Kenya, pastoralists account for 60 per cent of the total population and occupy over 70 per cent of the land mass.
While
climate change has drastically changed the fortunes of pastoralists,
experts say there is a way out. They say there is a need to find
sustainable ways to protect and promote livestock production, which
accounts for 12 per cent of Kenya’s gross domestic product.
“Climate
change is real. We should create climate change resilience
opportunities for pastoralists, as well as new adaptation and mitigation
measures,” said Dr Hannington Odame, director of the Centre for African
Bio-Entreprenuership in his presentation at the climate change
conference.
As animal deaths continue to be reported in
Marsabit, where milk production has gone down by 90 per cent —
according to the drought management authority — pastoralist Tumal Orto
Galdibe is not worried.
He says pastoralism is
profitable and the only thing needed are lessons on how to circumvent
adverse effects of climate change. He adds that taking good care of
livestock is as important as other climate change mitigation measures.
And
while many people argue that diversification and sedentary livestock
keeping will lessen the effects of climate change, Mr Galdibe believes
it is almost impossible for pastoralists to graze on limited pieces of
land because they live in dry areas where grass and vegetation is
scarce.
“I have not lost a single goat, sheep or camel to drought. All my animals look healthy,” he said during an interview.
Like
Mr Galdibe, many pastoralists believe that old adaptation mechanisms of
mobility hold the key to curbing harmful effects of climate change.
But
even the resilient communities living in arid areas have changed tack
as the drought bites. Mr Galdibe, for instance, does not keep cows any
more.
“I stopped keeping cattle because they cannot
withstand harsh climatic conditions. I keep only goats, sheep and camel.
These can trek for long distances in dry and stony regions in search of
food and water,” he said.
Goats and sheep can survive
at least one week without water while camels can go for 12 to 30 days, a
duration impossible for cattle, he said.
According to
him, keeping cattle has higher overhead costs and is therefore not
profitable. Mr Galdibe asked Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett to help pastoralists cope with the
devastating effects of climate change.
Like him,
thousands of pastoralists in Kenya hold on to livestock to the point of
death because of prestige and tradition. But many are yet to learn how
to withstand the adverse weather.
“Climate change is
not all negative, it can be exploited and people can benefit from it.
What we need is enhanced awareness about weather phenomena and coping
mechanisms,” said Dr Odame.
Some coping mechanisms like
migration have, however, created tension between communities and led to
cross-border conflict, said the deputy director of veterinary services
in the Ministry of Livestock, Dr Michael Cheruiyot.
While
world temperatures continue to rise unabated, changing the rainfall
patterns and increasing the frequency and severity of drought and
famine, governments should rise to the occasion and protect pastoralists
and other citizens from adverse climate, said Prof John R.S Tabuti, an
ethnobotanist at Makerere University during the conference.
“Pastoral
areas are vulnerable because of high exposure and low resource grants.
Coping mechanisms are also outdated. There is a need to raise adaptive
capacities and provide the necessary infrastructure and finances,” he
said.
Although there are laws and policies to govern
climate change, implementation in East Africa is lacking, said Prof
Abdelaziz Gaiballa from Sudan University of Science and Technology.
“We
are not short of laws and policies; we are actually very good at making
them. But the challenge is implementing them,” he said.
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