Livestock prices drop as drought intensifies
By Wycliffe Kipsang, September 21, 2022Livestock prices have adversely dropped in many markets in the North Rift as drought takes its toll in the region.
The worst hit are markets in Tiaty and Baringo North sub-counties in Baringo County where a cow which used to sell at Sh30,000 in early July now going at Sh10,000 while a goat which used to sell at between Sh4,000 and Sh5,000 now going at a mere Sh2,000.
A spot check by the People Daily in the area revealed that major water sources have already dried up and residents were walking long distances in search of water. In Tiaty Sub-County alone, more than 100,000 people are in dire need of relief food according to Red Cross with Ribkwo/Kositei, Silale and Loyamorok wards being the worst hit. Among major rivers which have dried up are Chemakany, Lewlew and Ng’inyang.
According to the Red Cross, an estimated 150,000 people in Turkana County are faced with acute food shortage caused by crop failure due to prolonged drought.
It also emerged that wild animals were also beginning to feel the pinch of the drought with hungry baboons raiding homesteads in search of goats.
Area leaders led by Tiaty MP William Kamket yesterday appealed to the government to send in relief food to the region. According to Kamket, children and the elderly are the worst hit as they cannot walk long distances in search of wild fruits which are also getting exhausted. “Hundreds of livestock which is the only source of livelihood to our people have also perished due to lack of water and pasture and thousands of people are now on the verge of starvation,” said Kamket.
Government program
This has also sparked fears of conflicts due to scramble for limited resources as herders move to their neighbours’ territories in search of water and pasture for their livestock.
The government has since embarked on livestock off- take programme in the drought-hit counties in the region to cushion against the effects of the drought.
The programme which is being spearheaded by the national government and other partners including the Red Cross and the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) is aimed at mitigating the effects of losses to farmers.
North Rift Red Cross Regional Manager Esther Chege said the programme will see livestock slaughtered and the meat distributed to the hunger-stricken residents.
According to Chege, West Pokot and Turkana counties which are the worst hit by the persistent drought will benefit from the programme in the North Rift region.
She said that in Turkana County, more than 3,000 livestock will be slaughtered which will benefit more than 45,000 food insecure people while 1,310 livestock will be slaughtered to benefit 13,100 people in West Pokot County.
“We believe that this for us is a milestone towards mind set change and we are seeing our communities warming up to this. We know this is a drop in the ocean as we will have reached more people but this is the targeted number of people at the moment due to the funding,” said Chege.