The National Drought Management Authority has announced a Sh30 million slaughter-to-destock programme targeting at least 10,000 livestock in Lamu.
The slaughter set for early October aims to avert more livestock deaths due to the ongoing drought.
It also targets at least 2,500 pastoralist households for the National Livestock Insurance project set to commence in December.
There is also a commercial off-take programme targeting at least 15,000 livestock, mostly cattle in hard-hit areas.
Lamu NDMA coordinator Mohamed Dahir says at least 3,000 cattle will be slaughtered and used to feed hunger-stricken residents.
Dahir said on Wednesday the entire programme will be undertaken by the NDMA, the Ministry of Agriculture and other development partners, including the European Union.
Target areas include Witu, Moa, Kitumbini, Nagelle, Dide Waride, Chalaluma, Pangani, Pandanguo, Mkunumbi, Koreni, Lake Amu, Poromoko, Bar’goni, Hindi and Chomo.
The programme intends to ease pressure on water sources and pasture as well as mitigate livestock loss.
“We are meeting with the county steering group on food security for the approval of recommendations before we embark on the real work,” Dahir said.
He added that the livestock to be purchased from residents will be transferred to other counties and state ranches for their health improvement.
The NDMA county boss said each cow going for slaughter will be purchased from between Sh8,000 to Sh12,000.
Livestock for commercial offtake will be purchased for Sh18,000 per head.
“We expect cooperation from these communities, instead of letting animals die and incur further losses, let’s all support this programme,” Dahir said.
Lamu's Livestock chief officer, Gichohi Mathenge said the county government had set aside Sh10 million towards undertaking various livestock interventions during the drought season.
He said the county was also distributing animal feeds and other livestock health interventions to affected areas.
“We have established water pans, dug boreholes, dams and wells. Admissions of livestock drugs and vaccination are also ongoing in places like Nagelle, Pangani, Mkunumbi and Lumshi,” Mathenge said.
Mathenge also revealed plans to roll out the National Livestock Insurance programme in the county before the end of the year.
The project which has been successfully piloted in counties like Marsabit intends to protect livestock keepers from drought-related asset losses.
The programme aims to cover particularly those in drought-prone arid and semi-arid lands.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
