NATIONAL DROUGHT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY DROUGHT MONITORING BULLETIN: IJARA & HULUGHO DISTRICTS PERIOD: JULY 2013 WARNING STAGES Livelihood Stage Trend Zone Pastoral Alert Worsening Alert Worsening Agro pastoral Formal employment/ Alert Worsening Casual labor Alert Worsening District Seasonal calendar Short Dry Spell Long rains Long dry spell Short rains Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Milk yield drops High milk yield Low milk availability High milk yield Livestock moves Livestock towards the Livestock moves towards Livestock moves moves traditional wet the fall back dry season towards traditional towards dry grazing areas grazing areas(Boni forest) wet seasons grazing season areas grazing zones High calving, Increased human-wildlife kidding and conflicts Gathering and lambing rates. High mating rates consumption Weaving and High labour demand of wild berries handcrafting Restocking and fruits. activities. Culling of stock Opportunistic crop Herd Restocking and farming separation de-worming Lean period for the pastoralists Lean period for Forage survey the pastoralists Crop farming activities Wedding ceremonies DROUGHT MONITORING BULLETIN, JULY 2013/ IJARA & HULUGHO DISTRICTS Page 1 Situation overview Scattered costal showers were received in some parts of Ijara and Hulugho district in the month under review. These included Hulugho, Ijara, and Sangailu and Bodhai divisions. However , the quantity was too low to make positive impact on pastoral and agro pastoral production Food prices of most essential commodities continued to increase in some areas while others remained the same .The most affected area was Bodhai agro pastoral livelihood because of the poor infrastructure All livestock herds especially cattle were camped in Boni forest and the northern parts of Lamu County. The quality and quantity of browse and pasture continued to decline in all the livelihoods in the month under review. The most affected areas were Warsame , Korisa and Gababa locations The volume of water in major water pans/dams continued to reduce virtually in all the livelihoods .The most affected areas were Warsame and Boni where the water available was anticipated to sustain the communities for two weeks The average prices of cattle increased from Kshs.17, 981.80 in June 2013 to Kshs. 18,060.00 in July 2013 while average price of goat dropped from Kshs. 2,710.60 in preceding month to Kshs 2,547.40 in this reporting month. On the same note the prices of sheep increased from Kshs. 2,222.60 in June 2013 to Kshs 2,348.30 in July 2013. The body condition for all categories of livestock was rated fair in all the livelihoods The percentage of children under 5 years old considered to be at risk of malnutrition based on the Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) measurement (<135 mm ) significantly increased from 14.07% recorded in June to 16.04% recorded in July 2013. This may have been attributed to low milk production due to poor quality of browse and pasture that did not improve livestock body condition. The average distance from households to water sources increased from 1.45 km in the previous month to 1.61 km in the month July 2013 while average distance between grazing areas increased from 8.91 km in June 2013 to 9.18 km recorded in July 2013. The average time taken by households per water drawing session during the month under review increased from 46 minutes recorded in the previous month to 57 minutes this reporting month of June 2013. Cases of FMD and LSD were reported in Ijara and Sangailu divisions with minimal death .No major livestock disease outbreak reported in the month under review. However Tsetse fly infestation remained a menace in pastoral and agro pastoral livelihoods. No outbreak of human diseases reported Generally, the drought situation in the two districts is at ALERM stage with WORSENING trends. RECOMMENDATIONS TO DISTRICT AUTHORITIES AND KFSSG BY DSG General food distribution to continue and be expanded to cover more beneficiaries. Provide livestock drugs subsidy for farmers especially in the treatment of trypanosomiasis. Introduce Food for Asset programmes to build resilience. Continue supplementary programme for the children under five years old, lactating and pregnant mothers Provision of treated mosquito nets and undertake spraying and fumigation of settled areas. .Promotion of household based water treatment measures as the quality of water continued to worsen because of contamination. Strengthen on-going health outreach services, stockpile drugs and provide adequate number of health personnel and logistics especially at rural health facilities. Intensify livestock vaccination against FMD, SLD, CBPP and CCPP. Continue with the School Meals Programme. Boost distribution of certified seeds, farm implements and promotion of drought tolerant crops varieties for the next season farming DROUGHT MONITORING BULLETIN, JULY 2013/ IJARA & HULUGHO DISTRICTS Page 2 1.0 ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS (STABILITY) 1.1.0 Rainfall Scattered costal showers were received in Hulugho, Sangailu, Ijara and Bodhai divisions in the second decade of the month. The rains had minimal impact on livestock production and absolutely no impact on crop production because of low quantity. 1.2.0 Condition of Natural Vegetation and Pasture. The forage condition continued to worsen in all the livelihoods .The browse have dried and withered while pasture have considerably reduced in quality and quantity save for areas adjacent to Boni forest. The worst affected areas were Gababa and Warsame locations where the large stock has moved to Boni forest in search of better pasture and water. The livestock population in both districts were concentrated in Boni forest and there is likelihood of conflict occurring between pastoralists of Ijara and farmers in witu of Lamu over utilization of the resources 1.2.1 Distance to Grazing Areas The distance covered by livestock from concentration camps to grazing areas increased from 8.91 km in the month of June 2013 to 9.18 km in July 2013. The increased distance was as a result of reduced quantity and quality of browse and pasture across all livelihood zones following the onset of the dry spell. 1.3 Water Sources and Availability 1.3.1 Water sources In Ijara district Boni and Warsame locations of Ijara division have water stress that needs urgent intervention. Warsame location was experiencing water stress as the long rains were inadequate to recharge sufficient water in the pans. However, the population was using a small hand dug water pan that was anticipated to last for one week. The quality of the water was poor because of contamination from livestock, domestic and wildlife use posing the risk of communicable diseases outbreak .There were no water treatment chemicals given to the community besides lack of awareness on the importance of boiling the water .On the same note Boni agro pastoral has water stress and currently relaying on natural lagga at a distance of 12km. Similarly Hulugho location has water stress as the quality and quantity of the water available in Hulugho dam drastically reduced. In Masalani division, Gababa location was the most affected where the whole population depending on one communal water pan for domestic use while the livestock trek to River Tana for water and pasture in the riverine area. The trekking distances was 12km. Also korisa in Masalani division, the grazing area was far from the water sources at a distance of 21km. The long trekking distance will have negative impact on the livestock body condition .However, the water available in other parts of the larger Ijara district was estimated to last for two months. The observed trend was not normal when compared with the same period of a normal year season. 1.3.2 Average distance (KMs) to water sources The average distance from households to water sources increased from 1.45 km in the previous month to 1.61 km in the month of July 2013 while average distance between grazing areas and water sources increased from 8.91 km in June 2013 to 9.18 km recorded in July 2013. In Masalani division, Gababa location was the most affected where the livestock trek to River Tana for water and pasture in riverine area at a distance of 12km. Also korisa in Masalani division, the grazing area was far DROUGHT MONITORING BULLETIN, JULY 2013/ IJARA & HULUGHO DISTRICTS Page 3 from the water sources at a distance of 21km. The long trekking distance will have negative impact on the livestock body condition. The observed trend was not normal when compared with the same period of a normal year. The increased distances between the water sources and grazing areas will have negative impact on livestock body condition because of trekking The average time taken by households per water drawing session during the month under review increased from 46 minutes recorded in the previous month to 57 minutes in this reporting month of July 2013.This will have negative impact on the household economy because of reduced time to engage in other productive work 1.4 Emerging issues 1.4.1 Conflicts/ insecurity/human displacement. Most of the livestock in Ijara and Hulugho districts have moved and concentrated in Korani and Wito in Lamu County thus creating tension between the pastoralists and farmers in Lamu. Tension was reported between pastoralists in masalani division and Tana River community over utilization of the river resources. Increased rural urban migration because of loss of livelihood There was insecurity along Kenya and Somalia border that rendered some areas inaccessible. For example Adanwabi agro pastoral could not be accessed during long rains 2013 food security assessment Land grabbing within the Boni forest following the launch of the Lamu port project has increased. Timber lumbering in the Boni forest. 1.4.2 Migration The livestock of Ijara especially cattle was concentrated in Korani and Witu in Lamu County.