Kenya
The Turkana District (NW Kenya) covers an area of 77.000 km2, and has a population of about 443.000. The area is characterised by a hot and dry climate, rainfall and quality of rangeland is somewhat higher in the periphery of the district. Annual rainfall averages is between 121 and 540mm. There are pockets of land where the soil is suitable for agriculture but the greatest part of the district is suitable for pastoralism only. The district has a number of seasonal rivers and watercourses. Only the Turkwell river flows almost year round.
The area is inhabited by the Turkana people, a Nilotic tribe, for whom livestock rearing in a nomadic setting, is the mainstay of the economy. Estimated livestock numbers are: cattle 200.000, Sheep 700.000, Goats 1.300.000, camels 120.000.
In the past large numbers of Turkana pastoralists were made destitute by drought, disease and war. The emphasis of the Government. Churches and Donor Agencies has been on the settlement of destitutes and development of fisheries and agriculture as alternative livelihoods. In 1979/80 Turkana suffered a severe drought and massive destruction of livestock due to disease. Turkana Rehabilitation Project (TRP) was established as a response. The alternative livelihoods presented to combat the effects of the drought, were never very successful and profits gained from these activities were invested in livestock to return to pastoralism when possible.
More information about Livestock Development Project II
More information about Livestock Development Project
More information about Turkana Drought Emergency Off-take
More information about Turkana Drought Mitigation Intervention
The area is inhabited by the Turkana people, a Nilotic tribe, for whom livestock rearing in a nomadic setting, is the mainstay of the economy. Estimated livestock numbers are: cattle 200.000, Sheep 700.000, Goats 1.300.000, camels 120.000.
In the past large numbers of Turkana pastoralists were made destitute by drought, disease and war. The emphasis of the Government. Churches and Donor Agencies has been on the settlement of destitutes and development of fisheries and agriculture as alternative livelihoods. In 1979/80 Turkana suffered a severe drought and massive destruction of livestock due to disease. Turkana Rehabilitation Project (TRP) was established as a response. The alternative livelihoods presented to combat the effects of the drought, were never very successful and profits gained from these activities were invested in livestock to return to pastoralism when possible.
More information about Livestock Development Project II
More information about Livestock Development Project
More information about Turkana Drought Emergency Off-take
More information about Turkana Drought Mitigation Intervention