The impact of foodcrop production on sustained livestock production in semi-arid regions of Kenya

• Published in: Agricultural systems Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 339 - 351
• Main Authors: Mukhebi, A.W., Knipscheer, H.C., Sullivan, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 1991; Elsevier
• Series: Agricultural Systems
• ISSN: 0308-521X; 1873-2267
• DOI: 10.1016/0308-521X(91)90163-5

One of the major issues in agropastoral development is the relationship of livestock and crop production. Does the introduction of crop cultivation on to productive rangeland deprive livestock of a major feed source that could be used during a drought? In Kenya, the drought in 1983–1984 offered an opportunity to explore the impact of drought on two adjacent agropastoral systems: an extensively managed (ranching) livestock system in Kajiado district and an intensively managed crop-livestock system in the southern part of Machakos district. The impact of the drought on livestock in both systems was determined through a post-drought survey of farmers and ranchers. Off-take rates were measured for cattle, sheep and goats. The impact of the drought on livestock in the intensive system in southern Machakos was much smaller than in the more extensive system in Kajiado. The results indicate that replacing extensive agropastoral systems with more intensive crop-livestock systems could lead to more sustainable livestock production.