Fodder production for enhanced pastoral and agro-pastoral resilience in the drylands of Southern Kenya

Fodder production is increasingly being adopted as a way of building resilience of livestock-dominated pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods in the drylands of Kenya. It is not only embraced as a source of feed for livestock during periods of scarcity, but also as a means of rehabilitating the degraded environments, and as a complementary source of income. Various case studies have shown the potential of fodder production in enhancing resilience of livelihoods against drought in the arid and semi-lands (ASAL) of Kenya. This has triggered promotion and adoption of the practice among pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the country. However, the trend calls for the role of research in supporting evidence-led development and upscaling of the value chain to ensure its sustainability. Among the prerequisites for developing a sustainable fodder value chain are, information on the productivity, nutritional quality, and drought and grazing tolerance of grass species; production and post-harvest handling practices; market structure; and challenges and opportunities in the value chain. This information is crucial in guiding selection and breeding of grass species suitable for the drylands; identification of species that require conservation; identification of the best agronomic and post harvest technologies; and market decisions. Overall, the goal of this research is to provide information to guide government and development agencies in targeting entry points for developing and strengthening fodder production, as well as exploring opportunities to ensure efficiency and sustainability of the value chain.