Relief for Garissa livestock farmers as more feeds distributed

The Kenya Red Cross has started the distribution of livestock feeds in five subcounties in Garissa that are worst hit by drought.

KRC is working in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Some 9,000, 50kg bags of animal feed will go to farmers in Dadaab, Fafi, Balambala, Ijara and Lagdera subcounties.

This is in an effort to supplement the efforts of the National Drought Management Authority, which had distributed 5,600 animal pellets in the last two weeks.

On Tuesday, county commissioner Boaz Cherutich said the feeds will go a long way in ensuring lactating animals get food to enable them to produce milk for families.

“We are grateful for ICRC because some of the farmers are left with very weak livestock at home, some of which are lactating," Cherutich said.

"In order to address the issue of nutrition to under five [years old] children and lactating mothers, it is very important to ensure those families have a steady supply of milk from their animals.

“We assure our people that the government will ensure that nobody dies due to hunger. As the county steering group, we are going to coordinate all the support which is coming to the county to ensure that all vulnerable families are taken care of."

The commissioner challenged entrepreneurs and business people in the county to think of ways to produce animal feeds locally at affordable prices.

“Sourcing the livestock feeds from Nairobi and Nakuru is very costly especially due to transport. We want to encourage our business people to organise themselves in groups or Saccos to benefit from the government programmes,” the county commissioner said.

“The feeds can be made and packed here and sold at affordable prices to farmers. We will work with the county government and the Cooperatives ministry to support such groups."

On the issue of border conflicts as a result of the movement of livestock in search of pasture, the commissioner said that they will strengthen peace committees in affected areas and sort out the issues before the conflicts escalates.

Mohamed Abdikadir, KRC regional coordinator for Northeastern, said the feeds will go to 1821 households.

“We are also doing Sh10,600 cash transfers for 500 households to help the families buy food and water,” Abdikadir said.

The drought that has affected pastoralists has seen many move their livestock outside the county in search of water and pasture.

Last week NDMA distributed  5,600, 50kg bags of pellets to the five most affected subcounties.

On Monday, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama appealed for immediate intervention measures to curb the ravaging drought.

Jama said the immediate focus should be on life-saving interventions including water, food and retaining of children in schools.

On Sunday Garissa residents held special prayers to seek divine intervention even as the drought worsens.

The prayers (salat al-‘istiqa) were at Garissa Primary School playgrounds on Sunday.

The ravaging drought has taken a heavy toll on the counties due to depressed rains or lack of rainfall in the past four consecutive seasons.

(Edited by Tabnacha O)