Kenyan farmers invest in camels to beat the drought

DW (English)

Known for their ability to survive in the desert, camels seem like a natural choice for Kenya's drought-stricken regions. A growing number of farmers are trading in their cows for camels. Their new livestock offer a number of advantages.

Transcript

00:00In the heart of central Kenya, this sight is becoming increasingly common.

00:05Camels wandering across the once cattle-dominated landscapes of Laikipia.

00:10For herdsmen like 65-year-old Abdullahi Mohamed, these camels are a lifeline.

00:17Before the drought, I earned a herd of 30 cattle.

00:21But when the drought hit, all but one of the cattle died, and now I'm only left with one.

00:28The 2020 drought was one of the worst Kenya has seen in decades.

00:33Across the country, thousands of herders lost their cattle as pastures disappeared,

00:38leaving families devastated and without their main source of livelihood.

00:42Up to 2.6 million cattle perished.

00:45These goats are the only traditional livestock that Abdullahi's family has left.

00:51They now mainly herd camels.

00:54Rearing cattle is difficult when the pasture is destroyed.

00:58Camels are easier to rear.

01:00They feed on shrubs and survive in harsher conditions.

01:04When the pasture dries out, the cattle die.

01:08Laikipia is feeling the impact of droughts spreading south.

01:13Unpredictable rains are turning its once green pastures into barren land.

01:20Neighbouring Samburu faces similar challenges.

01:24The ongoing drought means families have to travel long distances

01:28to fetch water for themselves and their animals.

01:3126-year-old Piti Musalia has been forced to adapt.

01:36The herdsman has also switched from cattle to camels.

01:42When the drought came and we owned a herd of 50 cattle,

01:46we sold them and bought five camels.

01:49The camels will help us survive until it rains again.

01:56Like many in the region, Musalia has learned that camels,

01:59with their ability to survive on less water and feed on tough vegetation,

02:04are better suited to the new reality.

02:07They can lose 30% of their body weight and survive.

02:10And they also have a higher milk yield than cows.

02:13But the move from cattle to camel herding is not without challenges.

02:20Cattle, their gestation period is nine months.

02:23But for camels, their gestation period is 11 to 14 months.

02:28So to multiply camels, it will require a longer time compared to cattle.

02:34So it may not be possible to get an economic card in camels as quickly as possible.

02:43For herders in central Kenya,

02:45the connection to their traditional livestock remains strong.

02:50Once the rains return, we can sell two or three camels

02:53to purchase a cow that produces milk.

02:57But for now, the switch is on.

03:01With the droughts, we have reduced pastures in the communities.

03:06And a way they can do to manage well the pastures is they can do rotational grazing,

03:14where they can paddock a few areas for use during drought season.

03:19But the challenge with that is that they have to be able to do it.

03:25If the traditional pastoralist way of life is to continue,

03:29communities have to find ways to share their resources

03:32and find climate-resilient alternatives.

03:35Camels can provide them with much-needed stability.

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