Feedlot
Plans are underway to construct feedlots in the 490 wards in Arid and Semi-Arids lands (ASALs) to cushion pastoralists from adverse effects of drought.
The Principal Secretary (PS) in the State Department of ASAL and Regional Development Harsama Kello speaking in Sololo Marsabit County during a public participation exercise for Walda Integrated Agro Pastoralism feedlot project said that the government was committed to addressing effects of drought in Asals areas where they bore the brunt for the loss of livestock as a result of perennial dry spell.
“The President has issued a directive of constructing feedlots in 31 Asal counties. In the last five years, pastoralists lost over 2.5 million livestock which has resulted in people in Asal areas to be poor,” said the PS. Harsama pointed out that the project in the 490 wards would cost sh13 billion.
Additionally, the PS said that the government would prioritize the 10 counties of Garissa, Mandera, Tana River, Isiolo, Samburu, Turkana, Baringo, West Pokot, Wajir and Marsabit. “President Dr. William Ruto has directed that we start feedlot projects in 31 counties but we will prioritize 10 counties so that cattle can withstand perennial drought,” noted the PS.
Walda Integrated Agro Pastoralism Feedlot project which will cost sh27 billion in Marsabit County and being implemented by Ewaso Ng’iro North Development Authority will be under 12,000 acres of land benefitting more than 1000 livestock keepers in the region.
“We have got an approval from the Marsabit community to establish a feedlot in Walda aimed at supporting pastoralists in times of drought and especially now we are expecting La nina after the last El nino season,” Harsama cautioned Sololo residents.
The project is expected to stock more than 2,000 animals besides the farmers’ livestock which is a game changer for livestock keepers. Residents who had donated their chunks of land for construction of the Walda feedlot project applauded the initiative noting it would create job opportunities for the youth and at the same time improve their livestock breed.
Area governor Mohamud Ali applauded the project and urged residents to take ownership aimed at ensuring that they recover from the past dry seasons. Marsabit County commissioner James Kamau said that the Walda feedlot project had more than 10 other components including cattle fattening, water points among others that will be of benefit to the community.
On their part, residents said that the project would create job opportunities for the youth, prevent them from drugs and substance abuse due to idleness and strengthen the region’s resilience to drought.