MT ELGON DISTRICTCROP LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES ASSESSMENT FOR MEDIUM AND HIGH RAINFALL AREAS OCTOBER 2011

Assessment Team:

Stephen Andika Ministry of Fisheries Development Headquarters

Simon MwangangiMinistry of Livestock Development, Headquarters

Dominic KitakaMinistry of Agriculture, Headquarters

DAO Mt ElgonMinistry of Agriculture

DLPO Mt ElgonMinistry of Livestock

DFO Mt Elgon Ministry of Fisheries Development

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 District Background-

1.2 Food Security Trends

1.3 Current Factors Affecting Food security in the District)

2.0 DISTRICT FOOD SECURITY SITUATION

2.1 Current Food Security Situation

2.2 Current Shocks and Hazards

3.0 IMPACT OF SHOCKS AND HAZARDS

3.1 CROP PRODUCTION

Crop performance

Rain-fed crop Production in the district

Current crop condition and stage of development

Current Maize stocks

Post-harvest management

3.2 LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION

3.2.1 Introduction

3.2.3 Livestock Productivity

3.2.3 Livestock marketing

3.3 FISHERIES

3.3.1 Back ground

3.3.2 Aquaculture

3.3.3 Capture Fisheries

3.3.4 Main methods of preservation of fish

3.3.5 Fish storage facilities

3.3.6 Fish prices

3.3.7 Fish Imports and exports

3.3.8 Challenges facing fish productions

3.4 MARKETS AND TRADE

3.4.1. Market operations

3.4 2. Market Supply and Traded Volumes

3.4.3. Commodity Demand

6.4. Market Prices

Price trends for maize

4.0 FOOD SECURITY PROGNOSIS

5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND INTERVENTIONS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1District Background-

  • Name of county-:- Bungoma
  • Number of Divisions; - 2
  • Number of Constituencies: - 1 (Mt.Elgon)
  • Names Of divisions: - 1. Kapsokwony 2.Kaptama.
  • Number of Locations: 8
  • Number of sub-locations: 20
  • Area of district: 433.8 sq. km
  • Arable land: 124.7 Km2
  • Total forest cover: 309.1 Km2
  • Population: 69,904 (2009 Census )Male: 34,817,Female: 35,087
  • Annual precipitations: 1400mm – 2100mm bimodal
  • Altitude -1800-4320 meters a.s.l
  • Per cent contribution of agriculture to rural employment in Mt Elgon dsitrict:60%
  • Per cent contribution of agriculture to total revenue in Mt Elgon district:45%
  • Poverty levels in the district : 56%
  • Average farm size;-3 acres
  • Average family sizes;-6 persons

Key livelihoods in the district

  1. Farming : 80% of the population
  2. Formal employment :10 % ,,
  3. Business: 5 % ,,
  4. Quarrying: 2 % ,,
  5. Logging and charcoal: 3% ,,

1.2 Food Security Trends

Most food commodity prices had remained high in the last three months occasioned by the previous shortage.The maize prices were highest in July and lowest in September. The prices of maize were caused by high demand and scarcity as most farmers had sold off their maize in earlier parts of the year. Maize is taken as cash and food crop in the district. Beans prices were high in some months due to scarcity.Food security trends: - food security situation for the last six months pegged on prices.

month / maize / beans / potatoes
April / 40/= per kg / 75/= per kg / 1800/= per 110 bag
May / 50/= per kg / 75/= per kg / 1500/= per 110 bag
June / 70/= per kg / 35/= per kg / 1500/= per 110 bag
July / 75/= per kg / 40/= kg / 1500/= per 110 bag
August / 40/= per kg / 50/= kg / 1800/= per 110 bag
September / 35/= per kg. / 75/= per / 2000/= per 110 bag

In the next three months many farmers will have harvested their maize and therefore expect farmers to have enough food. However many of the households are expected to sell a lot of their produce as this is their source of income

1.3 Current Factors Affecting Food security in the District)

  • High input prices
  • Poor roads
  • Unreliable rainfall -Late onset of rains affecting performance
  • Soil erosion affecting soil fertility
  • Fluctuating market prices
  • Dependence on food crops as source of income
  • Pests and Diseases

2.0 DISTRICT FOOD SECURITY SITUATION

2.1 Current Food Security Situation

At the moment there is enough food at the households. Harvesting is still on-going. If all is harvested and not sold can last up to next harvesting season(September 2012).The district has in stock 354,778 bags of maize,110 bags of finger millet and 80,000 of beans .

2.2 Current Shocks and Hazards

Rainfall performance: Kapsokwony station

Remarks

The weather was generally good for all the crops though rain started late. Due to late planting, crop yields reduced as shown from the production levels below. The long rains started late this year as compared to last year as shown on the table above.

Rainfall performance the last two seasons

  • The short rain for last year was not adequate for crop growing hence short season production was below average
  • This year’s longs were adequate though the distribution was poor which may affect production slightly.

Current Shocks and hazards

Crop / Major hazard eg drought, hailstones, floods etc during L.R 2011 / Major hazards during L.R in 2010
Hazard / % affected crop area / Hazard / % affected crop area
Maize / Hailstones / 30. %- The damage reduced the yields by 20%. / drought / 40%

The drought reported was a dry spell experienced during the growing season

3.0 IMPACT OF SHOCKS AND HAZARDS

3.1 CROP PRODUCTION

Introduction

Major food crops and contribution to food and income

Crop / %Contribution to food / %Contribution to income
Maize / 50 / 50
Irish potatoes / 10 / 90
Beans / 65 / 35

Maize is taken as a food and cash crop by over 90% of the farmers. This affects food security at the HH levels later parts of the year

Potential for irrigation

Description / Kapsokwony / Kaptama / Total
Area (Km2 ) / 255.66 / 209.95 / 456.61
Arable(Ha) / 58.50 / 66.2 / 124.7
Cultivated(Ha) / 5000 / 6200 / 11,200
Irrigable(Ha) / 15 / 10 / 25
Irrigated(Ha) / 10 / 5 / 15
Need drainage(HA) / 0
Drained(Ha) / 0
Dominant soils / Clay loam / Clay loam / Clay loam

Crop performance

Rain-fed crop Production in the district

Crop / Area planted current year
(Ha) / Long Term
Average
area planted (Ha)
Target / Current year production
(90 kg bags)
Projected/actual / Long Term Average production
(90 kg bags) Target
Maize / 12,000 / 14,000 / 280,000 / 350,000
Beans / 5,000 / 6,000 / 5,000 / 12,000
Irish potatoes / 4,500 / 6,000 / 250,000 / 700,000bags

For maize and beans targets not achieved due to;

  • Inadequate Kenya seed supplies
  • High input costs
  • late onset of rainfall Low achievements

The Maize crop performance is fair and it’s expected that Yield will improve from 65% to 70% in the year in Kaptama and Kapsokwony divisions as compared to last year. Yield may not be good in Cheptais division due to erratic rainfall received. However the NAAIAP supplies were late and this affected the expected yields of 35 bags per acre to about 25 bags per acre as observed from the crop performance in the field.

Current crop condition and stage of development

Most crops are at harvesting stage but a few farmers have started harvesting. The long rains season was better than last year. Some farmers plan to plant short season crop but it has not been reliable.

Current Maize stocks

Maize stocks / Quantities of maize held in the district (90-kg bags) / Long Term Average quantities held in the district (90-kg bags)
By Households / 245,000
Traders / 100,000
NCPB / 9778 bags
Millers / 0
Total / 354,778

At the moment there is enough food at the households. Harvesting is still on-going .If all is harvested and not sold can last up to next harvesting season (September 2012)

Post-harvest management

Current storage methods at HH level are satisfactory. There no cases of aflatoxin and maize rotting reports. Most farmers are storing their produce in their houses in sacks and bins as they do not have stores. The sacks are made of polythene which is not suitable for storage of cereals. This is so because of the high cost and unavailability of sisal bags. This affects the quality of the produce because of poor moisture management. Loses are also experienced from rodents and weevils.

Food requirements

Division / No of HH / Food requirement for next six months bags / Own production
bags / Surplus/ deficit / Remarks
kapsokwonyKaptama / 6,650 / 7555 / 240,000 / 242445

3.2LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION

3.2.1 Introduction

The major livestock types are :Indegenous poultry(61,960),zebu cattle(12,960),dairy cattle(10,090),sheep(7360) and local goats(3,260) and dairy goats(163).The local chicken and local goats are easy source of income although bthere is a great potential for daily income from sale of milk.

3.3.2 Forage and feed supplements a).Forage and feed supplements

-The forage condition is good and normal

-Current available feeds are:

  • Pastures and fodders-grass leys,nappier,,natural pastures for ruminants.
  • Suppliments-Dairy meal,Mollasses,Mineral suppliments,Maize stovers-for the dairy animals and small stock.
  • Chick mash,Growers mash,Layers mash for chicken.
  • The current available feeds show the normal situation.

Indicate Trend of fodder development (ha)

Fodder type / 2010 / 2009 / 2008
No figure / No figure / No figure

NB. no figures were availed by the district staff

Current acreage of fodder :no figures were availed by the district office.

Complained of lack of qualified field officers to do the estimate. However they indicated that the amount was below normal due to preference for short season crops like tomatoes,onions,and also grazing in the Government forest.

Amount of feed concentrates held by stockists and farmers:

Generally the concentrates were available and enough though the sales were low.

Duration the feeds will be available:

It was indicated that feeds (especially forages) will be available for the next 4 months ie Oct,Nov,Dec & Jan).Feb and March the feeds will have reduced drastically.

Factors affecting access and availability of livestock feeds:

  • Difficult terrain making transportation of commercial feeds&suppliments very difficult.
  • Few stockists .
  • Transport cost is high.

Feed concentrates Price Trends costs (Kshs)

Feed Type / 2011 / 2010 / 2009 / 2008
Dairy Meal / - / - / - / -
Calf pellets / - / - / - / -
Layers Marsh / - / - / - / -
Growers march / - / - / -
Chick Marsh / - / - / -

NB The staff at Mount Elgon promised to sent the figures later

3.2.3 Livestock Productivity

The body condition of cattle, sheep, goats and poultry is good due to availability of feeds.

Birth rate is normal with an approximately 80% calving rates.

Milk availability

House hold milk per day is about 3 litres which is normal.

Average price per litre is 30/= which is normal price.

Livestock holding:

  • Most families keep approximately 10 chicken per house hold, Dairy approximately 2 per HH, Sheep and goats about 6 per HH, Draught animals approximately 2 per HH.

Variation in holdings:

  • None

Milk Marketing Channels

Total Production / Market outlet / Market inlet / Price Kshs / Remarks
3,451,424.17 / Local / local / 30 / No organized marketing channels

Livestock diseases and mortality rate

Cattle :

  • Tick borne diseases :East coast fever and Anaplasmosis.

Control measures

Prompt treatment and advising farmers on tick control by hand spraying since there are no dips working.

  • Foot and mouth disease

Control measures:

Intensive surveillance

Quarantine and vaccinations

A total of 5710 head cattle and 123 sheep vaccinated in March hence no mortalities.

  • Mastitis

No mortalities. Economically important

Control measures

Farmers are being taught on clean milk production and milking techniques whenever such cases are reported.

  • Blackquarter/ Anthrax

Through disease surveillance and vaccinations 3628 head cattle and 14 sheep vaccination in June 2011.

  • Internal parasites

Worms are very common

Mortalities in small stock and calves are common up to 10-20%

Control measures:

Farmers being advised on good animal husbandry by deworming their livestock regularly using appropriate dewormers.

-Poultry

  • Newcastle and fowl typhoid diseases.

Mortality 60-100%

Control measures

Training farmers on routine vaccination on their farms.

-Donkeys

Worms, overworking and cruelty of the animals very common. Whoever no mortalities.

Control measures

  • Advising farmers to deworm their animals regularly
  • Not to overwork their animals
  • Never use sick (wounded) animals.

-Availability of vaccines and services

§ Blanthax

§ FMD (foot & mouth disease)

§ Rabies

§L.S.D (Lumpy Skin Disease)

3.2.3 Livestock marketing

Livestock marketing

Prices of major livestock types and products

DISTRICT / Current farm gate price / Market price / Market price same period last year / Reasons for differences or similarities
Cattle-dairy / 25000-40,000/= / 30,000-50,000/= / 30,000-45,000/= / Inflation
Cattle-meat / 8,500-40,000/= / 10,000/=-50,000/= / 8,000-45,000/=
Goat-dairy / 6,000-10,000/= / 6,000-10,000/= / 6,000-10,000/=
Goat- local/meat / 2,000-5,000/= / 2,000-5,000/= / 2,000-5,000/=
Sheep / 2,000-5,000/= / 2,000-5,000/= / 2,000-5,000/=
Hen/cock / 300-500/= / 350-900/= / 350-800/=
Milk/per litre / 20-30/= / 20-30/= / 20-30/=
Hides& skin
Hides/kg
Skins/piece / -
- / 25
125 / 15
120

Main challenges facing food security and livestock production:

  • § Poor marketing system- no operational auction yard in the district .
  • § High cost of feeds especially concentrates.
  • § Inadequate livestock extension personnel.
  • § No banking facilities or co-operative SACCO for loaning and keeping money for the farmers.

Names of stakeholders involved in livestock activities

  • § Action AID- involved in capacity building
  • § VI AGROFORESTRY- involveD in capacity building
  • § Aphia PLUS assist sheep farmers
  • § Ministry of Livestock Development involved with extension services

Conclusion:

Closing statement on the overall food security status in the District

§ District is currently food secure in terms of milk, meat but insecure in terms of eggs.

Statement on the impact of livestock production in the District

§ Livestock production provide easy and immediate access to money through sale of small stock and chicken with milk providing a more regular monthly income.

3.3 FISHERIES

3.3.1 Back ground

Mt Elgon district is a high fisheries potential area. Fisheries activities are undertaken through out the district and include both capture fisheries in various rivers in the district which were stocked with trout for sports fishing and other riverine fish like African cat fish and tilapia. Fish farming has been has been practiced in the district for along time but has been boosted by the ESP Programme implemented by the government for the last two years. Other fisheries activities involve limited trade in fish products that is brought in from outside the district.

3.3.2 Aquaculture

Fish production

Total no of fish farmers / Total of fish ponds / Pond size(area in M2) / Stocking / Monthly fish harvesting in Kg
Sp / No of
farmers / Stocked / Not
stocked / Stocked / Not stocked / No. of fingerlings stocked in the last 6month / J / F / M / A / M / J / J / A
Tilapia / 287 / 169 / 143 / 50700 / 42900 / 53000 / 0 / 73 / 0 / 0 / 213 / 639 / 317 / 480
Clarias / 5 / 5

Mt Elgon district has a total 287 farmers who participated in the Fish Farming Enterprise and productivity program. The district has 312 fish ponds covering an area of 93,600 Sq meters of which 169 are stocked whereas 143 are not. The ponds have been stocked with 53,000 fingerling of which Nile tilapia.

Production trends for the farmed fish are as follows

species / Jan / Feb. / March / April / May / June / July / Aug / Sep / Oct / Nov / Dec
Tilapia / 0 / 73 / 0 / 0 / 213 / 639 / 317 / 480
Clarias

Availability of fish farming inputs

Fingerlings / Other fish inputs
Species / Sources / Unit price / Input
type / sources / Unit price
% found
in the
district / % sourced
from outside
the district / Current / normal / % found in the
district / % sourced
from outside
the district / Current / Normal
Tilapia / 0 / 100 / 7 / 5 / Feed / - / 100 / 85 / 87
Clarias / 0 / 100 / 7 / 5 / manure / 100 / 0 / 20 / 95
Trout / 0 / fertilizer / - / 100 / 95 / -
Carp / 0 / liners / - / 100 / -

3.3.3 Capture Fisheries

The district has capture fisheries limited to the rivers where the production is negligible.

3.3.4 Main methods of preservation of fish

The main method used to preserve fish in the district deep frying.

3.3.5 Fish storage facilities

There are various dry stores for dried omena within the main markets in the district

3.3.6 Fish prices

Main fish
Species rank / Normal sources / Current prices per Kg / Normal prices / Reasons for difference
Wholesale / Retail / Wholesale / Retail
Rastreonobola / L Victoria / 50 / 75 / Availability
Tilapia / L Victoria / 150 / 320 / Availability
Nile perch / L Victoria / 50 / 80 / Availability
Cat fish / Ponds
L Victoria / 120 / 200 / Availability

The prices depend on the availability of fish in the district which is brought out from out side the district

3.3.7 Fish Imports and exports

  • Estimated Amount of Fish Imported into the District; Exported Outside the District

Fish species / Estimated quantities of fish sourced from outside the district per month / Estimated quantities of fish from the district sold outside per month / Remarks
Tilapia / 100 / 600 / Most of the fish from ponds is exported
Restreonobola / 500 / Nil / The most consumed fish in the district
Nile perch / 150 / Nil / Imported in fried and smoked form
Cat fish / 10 / 20 / Not prefer due to cultural beliefs

3.3.8 Challenges facing fish productions

  • Lack of a hatchery in the district to produce readily available fingerlings
  • High costs of feeds which are manufactured outside the district
  • Lack of local milling capacity for production of feeds
  • Low restocking of FFE&PP ponds
  • Un favourable weather conditions for production of fingerlings

3.3.9 Summary of interviews with Farmers, Fishers and Opinion leaders

  • Both the farmer and opinion leader agreed that fish farming can be to address food security
  • The farmer complained about the high cost of feeds and the time it takes to get fingerlings after ordering
  • Fisheries production can be used to address food security issues

3.3.10 Conclusion

The district can become a leading producer of farmed fish if the challenges enumerated here in are addressed

3.4 MARKETS AND TRADE

3.4.1. Market operations

There has not been any market disruptions reported in this district as most of the produce purchased in major markets is sourced from local production.

3.4 2. Market Supply and Traded Volumes

The demand for produce is within normal.

This was the same scenario same time last year other than the difference in price

Maize and beans are sourced from local production as the district is food secure

3.4.3. Commodity Demand

The demand for major food crops is within normal.

Prices will go down as harvesting continues

6.4. Market Prices

DISTRICT / Current farm gate price / Market price) / Market price same period last year / Reasons for differences or similarity
Maize / 50/=per 2kg / 55-60/=per 2kg / 30/=per 2kg / High rate of inflation
Sorghum / - / 100/=per 2kg / 100/= per 2kg / Not a favourable crop
Finger millet / 100/=per 2 kg / 120/= per 2 kg / 100/= per 2 kg / High rate of inflation
Rice / - / 140/= per kg / 100/= per kg / High rate of inflation
Beans / 120 per 2 kg / 150/= per 2 kg / 100/= per 2 kg / High rate of inflation
Cassava / - / 100/= per 2 kg / 100/= per 2 kg
Sweet potato / - / 20 per kg / 15/= per kg / High rate of inflation
Potato / 1500/= per bag / 2000/=per bag / 1500/= per bag / High rate of inflation

Price trends for maize

Jan / Feb / Marc / April / May / June / Jul / Aug / Sept / Oct / Nov / Dec
2010 / 45 / 45 / 50 / 50 / 50 / 50 / 50 / 50 / 55 / 40 / 40 / 50
2011 / 85 / 90 / 110 / 115 / 120 / 130 / 150 / 100 / 100 / 50