Oyola and Wakesi in Kenya : locals adapting to effects of climate change

Efforts are being made to document how communities are responding to climate vulnerability challenges at the local level. This paper focuses on two communities, the Oyola and Wakesi peoples who reside on the fringes of Lake Victoria (Western Kenya). Researchers and community participants mapped out climate events and the effects on their communities. A summary was drawn of the problems and opportunities that were identified from the historical profile the communities had created. Coping strategies were enumerated along with new strategies, such as construction of water pans and canals for drainage and water storage

Pastoralism in Kenya and Tanzania: Challenges and opportunities in animal health and food security

Pastoralism is used to describe a society that derives majority of their food and income from livestock. This form of farming system is largely practised in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL). It is estimated that 70% of the landmass in the Horn of Africa is dry land; in Kenya 80% of the landmass is classified as ASAL, while approximately half of Tanzania consists of dry land. These dry lands support wild resource harvesting, tourism but most importantly livestock rearing. It is estimated that over 75% of cattle herds in Kenya and 90% in Tanzania are kept by pastoralists who supply the bulk of meat consumed in the countries. In this paper we present current animal health challenges and opportunities being faced by pastoral farmers in Tanzania and Kenya based on primary data collected in Kajiado County, Kenya and Tanga and Morogoro regions in Tanzania. In the midst of many challenges and opportunities, food safety and food security are never assured amongst the pastoralists. We highlight pastoral community high livestock dependency for food and income, market access to livestock products, access to animal and human health services, livestock-wildlife interaction, factors that hinder increase of livestock assets and explore the knowledge of disease and exposure to zoonoses within the pastoral community

Pastoralism: Animal health and food safety situation analysis, Kenya and Tanzania

Pastoralism is a farming system in societies that derive majority of their food and income from livestock production. This form of farming system is practised in the world’s arid and semi arid lands (ASALs). It is estimated that 70% of the landmass in the Horn of Africa is dry land; in Kenya 80% of the landmass is classified as ASAL while approximately half of Tanzania consists of dry land. These dry lands can only be effectively utilised when used for livestock rearing, supporting wildlife resource harvesting and tourism. In this paper we present a current situation analysis of animal health and its implication on food safety based on primary data collected from pastoralists in Kajiado County, Kenya and in Tanga and Morogoro regions in Tanzania. Less than 10% of pastoralists in these communities engage in crop farming to supplement household income, and with their high dependency on livestock rearing, animal health challenges are a significant problem. We report on the livestock diseases with high prevalence and postulate their effects on food safety and food security in pastoral communities. We also explore the extent of species rearing diversification, pastoralist trade orientation, and practices that may expose the community and their trading partners to animal and zoonotic infections. We also assess access to animal health service providers within these pastoral areas and veterinary drug usage that may have significant implications on animal health and food safety

Cattle diseases in dairy herds in Tanzania: Farmers’ view and laboratory confirmation

Cattle diseases remain a major constraint to increasing dairy productivity in Tanzania, by killing or keeping them sick and under-producing. Recent studies report overall mortality between 12 and 14 % in smallholder dairy cattle across different regions of Tanzania. Many of these diseases can also be transmitted to people, causing illness and/or even death. Existing information on the diseases affecting dairy cattle in Tanzania and their relative importance is limited and relies either on passive reporting by poorly resourced veterinary services or on localised surveys focused on a specific well known diseases. The causes of cattle diseases remain often unknown and differential diagnosis is not conducted leading to mistreatment or ineffective treatment. Addressing this concerns a survey was conducted among cattle farmers in two regions in Tanzania using participatory techniques to collect information on disease importance supported by laboratory investigations on commonly expected cattle pathogens but also those seldom looked for but known to be important in other regions. For this purpose blood samples were collected from cattle (n=402) reported by farmers to be sick and subjected to a range of tests (ELISA) including tick borne diseases, selected zoonoses (brucellosis, Q Fever), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine viral diarrhea (BVR) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) among other pathogens. Biological sampling was aligned with data collection on farm and diseases management. Results indicate that diseases are common for the region. Among those most prominent were East Cost fever and Anaplasmosis (32 % each). Also important zoonoses were found (e.g. Brucellosis, 11 %). High numbers of positive tested sera were also reported for pathogens commonly not tested for (e.g. IBRV). Preliminary results suggest discrepancies between laboratory results (tested positive sera) and farmer’s perceptions on specific diseases. While for East Cost Fever farmer’s perception on disease importance confirmed laboratory results (37 % versus 32 %) we found a discrepancy for brucellosis (1 % versus 11 %), a neglected zoonoses with the potential of causing chronic, long lasting diseases in humans. Implications of farming management practices on the presence/absence of certain pathogens are currently developed and part of ongoing dissemination efforts

Achieving food security in the face of climate change: Final report from the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change

To bring our interconnected food and climate systems within a ‘safe operating space’ for people and the planet, the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change has outlined seven major areas for policy action. Throughout 2011, the Commission worked to harvest the practical solutions detailed in the many recent authoritative reports on food security and climate change. By combining this thorough review of the substantive evidence base with the diverse perspectives and disciplinary expertise, the 13 Commissioners have crafted a succinct roadmap for policy makers. The Commission offers no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution, but rather points the way forward to foster national, regional and sectoral innovation that can aggregate up to meaningful global change

Achieving food security in the face of climate change: Summary for policy makers from the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change

The Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change has reviewed the scientific evidence to identify a pathway to achieving food security in the context of climate change. Food systems must shift to better meet human needs and, in the long term, balance with planetary resources. This will demand major interventions, at local to global scales, to transform current patterns of food production, distribution and consumption. Investment, innovation, and deliberate effort to empower the world's most vulnerable populations will be required to construct a global food system that adapts to climate change and ensures food security while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and sustaining our natural resource base. Greatly expanded investments in sustainable agriculture, including improving supporting infrastructure and restoring degraded ecosystems, are an essential component of long-term economic development. The sooner they are made, the greater the benefits will be

Professor Judi Wakhungu on turning national attention to climate change and food security

Farmers in some areas are adapting to climate change, others are being "completely wiped out," pointing to the need for focused interventions. How are Kenyan farmers coping with shifting weather patterns

An evaluation of a long-term breeding programme in a closed Sahiwal herd in Kenya. II. Genetic and phenotypic trends and levels of inbreeding

Analyses trends in genetic and environemntal components of performance, to estimate levels of inbreeding and to quantify its effects on performance in order to identify which of these factors is responsible for the decline in performance at the Stud. Presents an evaluation of long-term breeding programme in a closed sahiwal herd in Kenya. Presents data on the analysis of trends in calving interval, on phenotypic, genetic and environmental trends in calving interval, birth weight, age at first calving, milk yield and liveweight. Presents records of Sahiwal cows kept at Kenya's National Sahiwal Stud (NSS) covering the period 1963 through 1988, to estimate genetic and environmental trends in production and reproductive traits, and to estimate levels and effects of inbreeding. Annual genetic, environmental and phenotypic changes in milk yield were 4.2, - 16.9 and - 12.7 kg, respectively

An evaluation of a long-term breeding programme in a closed Sahiwal herd in Kenya. I. Effects of non-genetic factors on performance and genetic parameter estimates

Investigates the effects of non genetic factors on performance, and estimates genetic parameters of reproductive and productive traits with a view to examining the appropriateness of the assumed parameters. Presents an evaluation of a long-term breeding programme in a closed Sahiwal herd in Kenya and presents data on means, standard deviations and coefficients of variation for the traits studied. The present breeding management at the Sahiwal stud requires that heifers be mated when they are 27 months old and are weighing between 260 to 270 kg. The estimate of mean age at first calving indicates that heifers were not able to attain the required weight until they were over 29 months. Indeed the age-weight requirement is unrealistic and is partially responsible for late age at first calving. In addition to this, there is a lower-than-expected growth rate at the stud. However, the increased age at first calving may also be a reflection of poor heat detection. Poor feeding is likely to affect age at first calving through its effect on growth rate and hence age at puberty. Moreover, nutritionally - induced silent heat may not only affect service period and calving interval but, through its effect on age at first service, does also affect age at first calving. The mean calving interval of 426d was shorter than reported for the Sahiwal breed in India, but was longer than for Bos taurus breeds in Kenya and elsewhere. However, most reported estimates of calving intervals for indigenous breeds have been in herds using natural mating