Building the Capacity of Private, Pastoral Institutions

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Mandera District Livestock Marketing Council (DLMC) is one of the regional branches of the Kenya Livestock Marketing Council, which promotes trade and marketing of livestock. The council is located in the northeastern corner of Kenya. The USAID-funded Kenya Drylands Livestock Development Program (KDLDP), implemented by CNFA, is expanding the capacity of local institutions, such as DLMC, in an effort to mitigate the devastating impact of drought in the area.

Mandera DLMC is benefiting from the program through human resource capacity building and training on improved leadership, governance and communication.

Through this training, the organization was empowered to lobby local institutions for land in order to implement their newly acquired agricultural technology and techniques. Soon after, DLMC was allotted 15 acres of land from the Government of Kenya. The organization worked quickly to turn around the farm and plant six acres of superior fodder in two months time.

The grass planted as fodder has since been harvested and yielded 1,800 bales worth a total of $8,000. This new income is being used to maintain DLMC’s farm and feed the animals.

Through the management training and capacity building efforts provided by KDLDP, the Mandera DLMC has increased their yield and profit, which has improved their food security. Food security creates stability and lessons the need for farmers and pastoralists to migrate to refugee camps during periods of drought.