Situation Overview

Heavy showers were received during themonth in some parts of the District. This recorded a total of 250 mm rainfallaccording to ALRMP recording station at Chemolingot.

As a result of the heavy showers qualityand quantity of forage has improved and water availability for both humanand livestock has improved. However the showers accompanied by strong windscaused a lot of destruction to trees and buildings in the area. Body conditionof livestock has not improved well indicating a poor recovery of livestocksupported by poor milk production.

The average prices of livestock slightlyincreased in cattle and camel owing to better demand while it decreasedin goats and sheep. However prices are still low compared to the normaltimes.

The average prices of food crops andother commodities reduced during the month owing to adequate supplies into the markets from neighboring districts. Casual labour and petty traderemained the most important sources of income for most sampled households.The general nutritional status of children remained worse during the monthowing to little milk production from the animals and inadequate food athousehold level.

Recommendations to district authorities/DSG and national KFSSG

The veterinary department/ Agencies shouldstep up support to the livestock health sub-sector through vaccinationsand treatment of clinical cases. In particular, action should be directedto tick-borne diseases (ECF), Camel Pneumonia and the CCPP in the pastoraland the Agro-pastoral livelihood zones.

There is need to strengthen conflictprevention and peace building initiatives to stop the frequent livestockraids and killing of innocent people along the common borders of Laikipia,Samburu, Turkana and Baringo districts. This will enhance peaceful co-existenceand access to key grazing areas.

It is recommended that nutritional supportbe provided by GOK to more vulnerable households in all the livelihoodzones of the project area, as a result of the dry spell that caused cropfailure and the decline in animal based food in the season.

It is recommended that a nutritionalsurvey for the under five years children be carried out to assess the nutritionalstatus of the children as percentage of malnutrition cases has been risingfor the past three months in the project area.

The DMOH should carry out a health surveyto establish the reasons for the rising cases of KALA-AZAR in the projectarea and institute the necessary action to save lives of those affected.

Current interventions

1) Non-food interventions

Rehabilitation of Chemolingot and KorotoBore-holes

Establishment of pseudo- irrigation (Waterharvesting, Spreading and Irrigation) farms in Tilingwo (Loiwat loc.) andin Miach (Kaboskei kerio).

Branding and vaccination of livestockin the project area

2) Food Aid

GOK through WVK, the lead agency in thedistrict to distribute relief foods and the DC'S office are currentlydistributing relief food.

DSG meeting and Recommendations

The DSG held their meeting on 28th July2006

The following recommendation was made.

Carry out Long Rains Food Security RapidAssessment.

1. STABILITY

1.1 Rainfall

Heavy showers were received during themonth which was quite above normal at this time of the year. The 250 mmrainfall received in one station was equivalent to one year's rainfallin 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 & pastureCondition

The quantity of forage in most partsof the project area is fair after the rains. The quality of the availablepasture was also fair. Following the rainfall received it is expected thatthe forage will improve fairly.

The distance to grazing areas has reducedowing to improving pasture and browse conditions.

1.3 Water Sources & Availability

During the last four weeks there wasan improvement in water and pasture availability.

The water sources currently in use arePans & Dams, Pools, Rivers, Traditional river wells, Boreholes, Lakesand springs.

Distance to the nearest water sourcehas reduced from an average of 4.0 km to 3.0 km for most of the householdswhile the distance to grazing fields also reduced from 9 km to 5 km duringthe month.

1.4 Emerging Issues

Distance to grazing areas and distanceto the nearest water sources have reduced.

The security situation along the Samburu-Laikipia- Baringo borders has worsened.

The insecurity is not normal at thistime of the year.

1.5 Implications on Food Security

The water and pasture situation has improvedas evidenced by the reduced distances to water sources and grazing fieldshence enhancing food security.

2. FOOD AVAILABILITY

2.1 Livestock Production

2.1.1 Livestock body condition

Livestock body condition has not fullyimproved in all the livelihood zones despite the coming of the rains andimprovement of pasture.

This is not normal at this time of theyear.

2.1.2 Livestock diseases

An upsurge of CCPP was reported in theproject area. ECF was reported in cattle particularly along the Kerio Riverin Kolowa and Bartabwa divisions while premature births and pneumonia inCamel was reported in Nginyang and Kolowa divisions.

2.1.3 Milk production

Milk production is still low in mostparts of the project area due to poor recovery of the body condition ofthe animals during the season.

This is not normal at this time of theyear.

2.2 Crop production

2.2.1 Timeliness & status of crop

Planting of cereals and legumes was donetimely in the season however the crops failed during the onset of the dryspell.

This is not normal at this time of theyear.

2.3 Implications on food security

Following the crop failure the food securitysituation is ALARM in all the livelihood zones.

Livestock body condition and milk productionhas not adequately improved despite the coming of the rains and improvementof pasture during the month.

3. ACCESS TO FOOD

3.1 Livestock marketing

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