Pastoralists’ perception of livestock production systems and opportunities for improvement in Southwestern Marsabit, Kenya

Abstract

Rapid rural appraisal (RRA) was conducted among the Rendille and Samburu pastoralists of Southwest Marsabit, Kenya to assess their perceptions on the roles of livestock, prevailing constraints, health status of the young stock and opportunities for improvement. The RRA tools used were; direct observations, free listing, scoring and ranking in focused groups. The results showed that livestock reared were; cattle, camels, sheep, and goats while chicken and bees were recently introduced. Milk for household use was ranked as the most important benefit while use of camels for transport and sales of milk, meat and live animals shared the second and third positions. The traditional and medicinal household needs were also fulfilled by these animals.

Major and common general constraints to livestock production were listed as: diseases, drought, insecurity, lack of water, limited markets and drug supplies, inadequate pastures and poor veterinary services. Coping strategies to alleviate these constraints were; use of veterinary drugs, ethnoveterinary practices, traditional quarantines and mobility of livestock. Detailed discussions on available opportunities for improvement of the animal health and production were carried out and conclusions made.