Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi

The interface between pastoralism and agriculture in semi-arid areas is often a zone of competition over land use between farmers and herders. Population pressure in agricultural areas has resulted in migration of farmers into lands of more marginal quality, lands which are important dry season grazing areas for the pastoralists’ herds. Farmers cultivating these lands are likely to be severely affected by drought, while the losses of such areas from the dry season grazing reserves increases the vulnerability of pastoralists to drought. This Working Paper presents a proposal for the study of the problems associated with such competition overland use as it affects pastoralists and farmers in selected locations in Kajiado District.