Assessing the Potential of Camel Milk as a Livelihood Option in the Face of Climatic and Environmental Changes in Drylands of Kenya

Abstract: 
In drylands of Kenya, the adverse effects of climate variability and change has directly weakened the pastoral production system and made it less effective as a livelihood option. This has med most pastoral household food insecure. However, there are many alternatives that exist to cushion pastoral households against the effect of climate variability and change. This study argues that proper assessment of camel milk sub-sector in dryland of Kenya is necessary to ascertain the potential and suitability of camel milk as one of the most suitable opportunities to ensure sustainable livelihood; enhancing pastoral resilience for climatic and environmental changes and shocks and thus achieve food security and alleviate poverty in dry pastoral areas of Kenya. The emphasis is therefore to consider camel milk for ensuring household food security as an alternative to cope and adapt to climate variability and change in the dryland of Kenya
Dans les zones arides du Kenya, les effets néfastes de la variabilité et du changement climatique ont directement affaibli le système de production pastorale et l’ont rendu moins efficace comme moyen de subsistance. Cela a rendu la plupart de familles des éleveurs dans une insécurité alimentaire. Cependant, il y a de nombreuses alternatives qui existent pour protéger les ménages des éleveurs contre l’effet de la variabilité et du changement du climat. Cette étude fait valoir que l’évaluation correcte du sous-secteur du lait de chamelle dans les zones arides du Kenya est nécessaire pour déterminer le potentiel et la pertinence du lait de chamelle comme l’un des débouchés les plus appropriés pour assurer la subsistance durable, renforcer la résilience pastorale pour les changements et les chocs climatiques et environnementaux et ainsi atteindre la sécurité alimentaire et atténuer la pauvreté dans les zones pastorales arides du Kenya. L’accent est donc de considérer le lait de chamelle pour assurer la sécurité alimentaire desménages comme une alternative pour faire face et s’adapter à la variabilité et au changement climatique dans les zones arides du Kenya
Language: 
English
Extended abstracts submitted under Enhancing Livestock Productivity
Date of publication: 
2012
Country: 
Region Focus: 
East Africa
Collection: 
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories: 
Licence conditions: 
Open Access
Access restriction: 
Form: 
Printed resource
Publisher: 
Notes: 

The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants.This record contains an extended abstract accepted under Enhancing Livestock Productivity