Vet care for nomad livestock
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According to the International Livestock Research Institute, over 330 million African and Asian farmers directly rely on sheep and goats for their livelihood. Animal infections reduce productivity. Most vulnerable are those who migrate with the seasonal cycle, because they lack veterinary support for their animals.
A pilot project in the arid county of Isiolo in east Kenya brings veterinary services closer to nomads to improve milk production and reduce the transmission of disease among livestock. The project, aimed at building resilience in the face of a changing climate, has been so successful it is set to be replicated in other arid areas of the country.
In this audio feature, farmers and the director of veterinary services in Isiolo, talk about the project’s benefits and the challenges they still face.