Situation Overview
Heavy showers were received during the month in some parts of the District. This recorded a total of 250 mm rainfall according to ALRMP recording station at Chemolingot.
As a result of the heavy showers quality and quantity of forage has improved and water availability for both human and livestock has improved. However the showers accompanied by strong winds caused a lot of destruction to trees and buildings in the area. Body condition of livestock has not improved well indicating a poor recovery of livestock supported by poor milk production.
The average prices of livestock slightly increased in cattle and camel owing to better demand while it decreased in goats and sheep. However prices are still low compared to the normal times.
The average prices of food crops and other commodities reduced during the month owing to adequate supplies in to the markets from neighboring districts. Casual labour and petty trade remained the most important sources of income for most sampled households. The general nutritional status of children remained worse during the month owing to little milk production from the animals and inadequate food at household level.
Recommendations to district authorities/ DSG and national KFSSG
The veterinary department/ Agencies should step up support to the livestock health sub-sector through vaccinations and treatment of clinical cases. In particular, action should be directed to tick-borne diseases (ECF), Camel Pneumonia and the CCPP in the pastoral and the Agro-pastoral livelihood zones.
There is need to strengthen conflict prevention and peace building initiatives to stop the frequent livestock raids and killing of innocent people along the common borders of Laikipia, Samburu, Turkana and Baringo districts. This will enhance peaceful co-existence and access to key grazing areas.
It is recommended that nutritional support be provided by GOK to more vulnerable households in all the livelihood zones of the project area, as a result of the dry spell that caused crop failure and the decline in animal based food in the season.
It is recommended that a nutritional survey for the under five years children be carried out to assess the nutritional status of the children as percentage of malnutrition cases has been rising for the past three months in the project area.
The DMOH should carry out a health survey to establish the reasons for the rising cases of KALA-AZAR in the project area and institute the necessary action to save lives of those affected.
Current interventions
1) Non-food interventions
Rehabilitation of Chemolingot and Koroto Bore-holes
Establishment of pseudo- irrigation (Water harvesting, Spreading and Irrigation) farms in Tilingwo (Loiwat loc.) and in Miach (Kaboskei kerio).
Branding and vaccination of livestock in the project area
2) Food Aid
GOK through WVK, the lead agency in the district to distribute relief foods and the DC'S office are currently distributing relief food.
DSG meeting and Recommendations
The DSG held their meeting on 28th July 2006
The following recommendation was made.
Carry out Long Rains Food Security Rapid Assessment.
1. STABILITY
1.1 Rainfall
Heavy showers were received during the month which was quite above normal at this time of the year. The 250 mm rainfall received in one station was equivalent to one year's rainfall in an arid region that it caused a lot of destruction to trees and buildings. The average number of rainy days recorded was 4.
1.2 Natural Vegetation & pasture Condition
The quantity of forage in most parts of the project area is fair after the rains. The quality of the available pasture was also fair. Following the rainfall received it is expected that the forage will improve fairly.
The distance to grazing areas has reduced owing to improving pasture and browse conditions.
1.3 Water Sources & Availability
During the last four weeks there was an improvement in water and pasture availability.
The water sources currently in use are Pans & Dams, Pools, Rivers, Traditional river wells, Boreholes, Lakes and springs.
Distance to the nearest water source has reduced from an average of 4.0 km to 3.0 km for most of the households while the distance to grazing fields also reduced from 9 km to 5 km during the month.
1.4 Emerging Issues
Distance to grazing areas and distance to the nearest water sources have reduced.
The security situation along the Samburu- Laikipia- Baringo borders has worsened.
The insecurity is not normal at this time of the year.
1.5 Implications on Food Security
The water and pasture situation has improved as evidenced by the reduced distances to water sources and grazing fields hence enhancing food security.
2. FOOD AVAILABILITY
2.1 Livestock Production
2.1.1 Livestock body condition
Livestock body condition has not fully improved in all the livelihood zones despite the coming of the rains and improvement of pasture.
This is not normal at this time of the year.
2.1.2 Livestock diseases
An upsurge of CCPP was reported in the project area. ECF was reported in cattle particularly along the Kerio River in Kolowa and Bartabwa divisions while premature births and pneumonia in Camel was reported in Nginyang and Kolowa divisions.
2.1.3 Milk production
Milk production is still low in most parts of the project area due to poor recovery of the body condition of the animals during the season.
This is not normal at this time of the year.
2.2 Crop production
2.2.1 Timeliness & status of crop
Planting of cereals and legumes was done timely in the season however the crops failed during the onset of the dry spell.
This is not normal at this time of the year.
2.3 Implications on food security
Following the crop failure the food security situation is ALARM in all the livelihood zones.
Livestock body condition and milk production has not adequately improved despite the coming of the rains and improvement of pasture during the month.
3. ACCESS TO FOOD
3.1 Livestock marketing
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