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Kenya

Makueni County: Drought Early Warning Bulletin for February 2016

Attachments

Drought Situation & EW Phase Classification

Biophysical Indicators

  • The cessation of the rains was from 1st to 2nd dekad of January, though intermittent rains have since been received.

  • Met. Department projects that the rains will be depressed for the MAM season.

  • Onset expected on the forth week of March.

  • Generally pasture and browse condition was good across all the three livelihood zones as seen in the VCI recorded indicating above average greenness.

Socio Economic Indicators (Impact Indicators)

  • Livestock body condition was good for all the species across the three livelihood zones.

  • Crop harvests were good apart from few pockets in the Marginal Mixed farming zone where maize was stressed i.e. Usungu, Maweli, Makindu area, Yinzau and Syengoni.

  • Both milk production and consumption was above the long term average.

  • The terms of trade were favorable during the month of February.

  • The distance to water sources for HHs was below average at 1.63Km(against 2.5km normally) and the cost of a 20litre Jerrican varied from KSh2 to KSh5

  • MUAC and the CSI were within the Normal ranges.