Fighting Climate Change Through Camel Husbandry
Project Year (2020 - 2021)
Project Background
More than 70% of Kenya’s land area is arid or semi-arid and many of those living in these areas rely on livestock farming and in particular cattle. However, changes in climate and the resultant water shortages are making life much more difficult, particularly for cattle and this has a devastating impact on indigenous small holder farmers. In contrast camels are much better suited to conditions in drought-hit areas. The project will disseminate information on animal diseases and their treatment and also make this data available to a web-based government-run disease monitoring system. These measures will offer an effective way of reducing the likelihood of epidemics.
Project Significance
Camels are well suited to harsh conditions as they can cope well with drought. Camels are less demanding than cattle when it comes to food and will even eat the leaves of the thorny acacia tree. The Enduring Voices Foundation (EVF) is working to reintroduce 'Camel Husbandry' and training indigenous people in the basic principles of livestock farming and the marketing of animal products. It will also held the community through timely dissemination of relevant information on animal diseases and how to prevent and treat them. After being adapted to suit local conditions, 'Camel Husbandry' will provide local indigenous people with sustainable opportunities for income generation; it will also improve food security and at the same time protect the sensitive ecosystem.
Project Beneficiary
5,575 people, of whom 1,500 are women, are going to benefit directly from the activities of the proposed project in Isiolo, County of Kenya: This is made up of 5,000 indigenous smallholder livestock farmers, 135 Camel milk traders, 405 recipients of Camels and 35 government employees from the Veterinary Medicine Service.s. A further 56,000 members of the region’s nomadic communities will benefit from this project indirectly. They'll be given timely and valuable information on 'Camel Husbandry' and the local marketing of Camel milk.
Project Objectives
The aim of the proposed 'Camel Husbandry' project is to strengthen the resilience of indigenous pastoral communities in Kenya to changes in climate, in particular to drought. The reintroduction of camel farming, the sale of camel milk and the control of diseases that affect other livestock are designed to improve the food security and incomes of pastoral families and also to achieve a general improvement in animal health.
Expected Project Outcomes
The proposed 'Camel Husbandry' will make a significant contribution towards improving the lives of the indigenous pastoralists' families living in Isiolo County, of Kenya. Female Camels provide 3-10 liters of milk each day. Indigenous families consume on average 1-2 liters for their own use; this will improve food security and reduce malnutrition prevalent amongst the indigenous pastoralists' communities of Kenya. Through the 'Camel Husbandry' project, any remaining milk will be sold through the local milk cooperative society in Isiolo and thereby earn a family about 500 KES (about 5 USD) per day. The families could then used their income in various ways, e.g. to pay for their children’s school fees. They could even multiply their herds by buying new camel calves, since a young male camels are sold for about 50,000 KES (about 500 USD).
Project Sustainability
The Enduring Voices Foundation has established links between Camel owners and government Veterinary Officers, so that the project beneficiaries can have access to veterinary and treatment services even after the end of the project life cycle. The cost of the treatment will be covered by the Camel owners themselves with the income earned by selling the Camel milk. The project participants will be encouraged to become part of the supply chain for camel milk, including marketing. This will allow them to sell their products independently at rural and urban markets.
The proposed 'Camel Husbandry' project is structured such that the various women’s cooperatives can cover all parts of the supply chain. This means that they will not be reliant on doing business with third parties. In the area of animal health, indigenous livestock farmers will be able to recognize and treat any diseases that occur. These diseases will then be reported to the local veterinary authorities. The local authorities will have incorporated the web-based disease monitoring system into their own planning and funding systems. This will allow them to monitor the incidence of animal diseases, recognize potential epidemics more quickly and move fast to prevent them.
The proposed 'Camel Husbandry' project is structured such that the various women’s cooperatives can cover all parts of the supply chain. This means that they will not be reliant on doing business with third parties. In the area of animal health, indigenous livestock farmers will be able to recognize and treat any diseases that occur. These diseases will then be reported to the local veterinary authorities. The local authorities will have incorporated the web-based disease monitoring system into their own planning and funding systems. This will allow them to monitor the incidence of animal diseases, recognize potential epidemics more quickly and move fast to prevent them.