Tana River - Fodder Production and Animal Health Activities

Climate change has caused much suffering to the pastoral communities in arid and semi arid lands, with major changes on rainfall patterns and quantity. Communities have been unable to adapt quickly to these changes and livestock based livelihoods have been affected.

Over the years, access to water and pasture, two of the most important commodities in sustaining livelihoods, has drastically reduced. Livestock diseases (such as PPR) are increasing, driving down prices and marginalising livestock traders.

In order to mitigate against these impacts on pastoralists, VETAID is investing in fodder production through irrigation and water harvesting technologies, to promote the conservation of water for use during the dry period. This will increase the resilience of the communities in the face of prolonged droughts.

Water is drawn from the Tana River to irrigate adjoining land for grass seed bulking. Selected community members are trained on demonstration sites which are planted with grass, and once the seeds are ready, they are distributed to interested farmers for reseeding on their own enclosures.

We are also raising awareness within the community that money and time needs to be invested for these activities to be successful. The lessons learned are shared through pastoral field schools, with frequent community exchange visits.

Along with the water harvesting techniques, community animal health workers are trained to identify and vaccinate against common diseases. 100,000 sheep and 50,000 cattle are to be vaccinated and this mass treatment means endemic diseases can be controlled.

Three hundred participating households will be enhanced through the training on seed bulking, and over 1,800 community members will also benefit.