NAIROBI, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Perennial death of cattle in Kenya's arid and semi-arid areas in the North is set to be a thing of the past as the government moves to establish feedlots.
Kenya has in the last few years been experiencing severe drought in the drylands, where 90 percent of beef animals are kept.
During such times, pastoralists lose thousands of animals to drought due to lack of pasture.
The lucky ones normally move to other areas but this has always led to conflict over resources, including pasture and water.
Others have been selling the animals for as low as 5 U.S. dollars for goats and sheep to escape losses.
Over the years, the government has been buying animals from farmers to cushion them from losses but this model has been unsustainable so far.
Feedlots, therefore, offer the best solution as the effects of climate change become more severe in the East African nation's arid areas.
The feedlots are special holding zones for animals where they are treated, fed with various protein rations to boost weight gain and then released for the market for slaughter.
"The country has experienced drought in many arid and semi-arid counties. To mitigate the effects of drought, the department of livestock wishes to engage feedlot operators to establish strategic holding zones in various parts of the country," said principal secretary in the department of livestock Andrew Tuimur.
The Kenya government seeks to establish the feedlots in 12 arid counties namely Machakos, Isiolo, Laikipia, Tana River, Lamu, Narok, Baringo, Kajiado, Marsabit, Kwale, Taita Taveta and West Pokot.
The overall aim of the project, according to Tuimur, is to boost food security, which is one of the main goals of the Big Four agenda through increase of supply of livestock for the local and export market.
Henry Wandera, an economics lecturer, said feedlots would unlock the economic potential of arid areas.
"That culture of losing animals due to drought would be a thing of the past. Pastoralist would sell their animals at good prices after rearing them for some years," he noted.
Kenya's beef exports were denied entry into the European Union due to diseases, years back.
But with feedlots, Wandera sees the resurgence of beef export trade as the animals would be kept in special zones, where their origin can be easily traced in case they are to be sold for export.
"Botswana exports beef to the EU because of feedlots. Why not Kenya, a bigger economy? This is a step in the right direction," he concluded.
