Background
Turkana District of Kenya covers approximately 77,000 square kilometers lying almost entirely within the Gregory of the Great Rift Valley.

It is bordered by Ethiopia in the North East, by Sudan in the North and by Uganda in the West.

The Turkana District is hot and dry, and subject to periods of severe draught. Rainfall is unreliable, and unpredictable in amount, duration and periodicity.

There are no permanent rivers in the district, and only two rivers, the Kerio and the Turkwel, carry any surface flow for more than a few months each year. Most smaller drainages carry water only for a few days during the year when they are subject to flash floods during the rainy season.

Climatic conditions described here fit clearly within the framework of arid land ecosystems as non equilibrium ecosystems. The aridity, frequency of drought and extreme coefficients of variance in the rainfall pattern lead to unstable and unpredictable system dynamics.

In severe frequent droughts population fluctuations prevent plants and herbivores from developing closely coupled interactions, ecosystem development and succession are limited or non existent and ecosystems hardly reach a climatically determined equilibrium point.

The World Bank Poverty Survey (2005) indicates that 56% of Kenyans live below the poverty line. Those living in the arid and semi arid lands ( ASAL) such as shown by the photo graph above are even more vulnerable, are barely reached by state services and are obliged to confront multiple problems every day to guarantee their survival. This statement is not just another World Bank statistic but has a deeper meaning and implication which can be summarized by Peter Woickes’ (International Finance Corporation) remarks, commenting on ‘Development and use of information and communication’. And I quote “We can not pretend any longer that it is normal for less than 20% of the world’s population – the rich countries – take 80% of the world’s and dominate its wealth and resources. Because of the availability of information – with TVs in every slum and the growth of the internet – the future of the rich is linked more than ever to the future of the poor�

Raising of livestock lies at the heart of social and economic live of the Turkana people.

Information from The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, Kenya indicates that Turkana District has 193,600 cattle, 975,600 sheep, 1,951,200 goats and 140,760 camels, at least 3.3 million animals.

It is estimated that there are more animals across the borders into Uganda and especially in Sudan and Ethiopia where cross border trade has gone on for many years, courtesy of the porous nature of the borders and the close relationship of the tribes that live along the borders; belonging to the Karamoja cluster. This high population of animals guarantees a constant supply to the factory.

The rich source of livestock (walking capital) in this area has not been translated into economic capital due to several factors key of which is lack of processing and marketing facilities for livestock and products.

Intermediation
The African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) has been active in the Turkana District for about thirty years, working mainly in the areas of health and health related development. AMREFs experience has permitted the identification of the factors that hamper development in this region; the importance of the need to intervene in the sector of livestock health has been in particular emphasized, alongside support for economic development, the commercialization and processing of livestock products, the strengthening of management capacities and the correct management of productive and natural resources.

AMREF teaming up with Terra Nuova have constructed a meat processing factory with funding from AMREF Italy, Italian Cooperation, Regione Lombardia of Italy and Cariplo Foundation of Italy.

The Factory has a fully equipped laboratory where samples from both the abattoir and the field will be analyzed. Animal diseases will thus be identified and dealt with quickly enabling the monitoring of recurring diseases across the region. The facility will also act as a Center of Technology excellence both at local and at a more advanced level with technicians and veterinarians facilitating passing down skills to the grass roots level.

The factory will also assist in draught response by slaughtering animals in bigger numbers before and during looming draught to cut down on losses. Attracting livestock for sale and peaceful trading of livestock amongst the neighbouring communities might slow or even stop altogether the menace of cattle rustling and thereby promote peace.

What has been achieved so far?
• Construction of the Abattoir composed of :
o Flaying area to handle 50 cattle and 200 goats per day
o A veterinary office
o A refrigerated cutting room
o A cold room
o A chiller room
o Two generators ( 100 and 40 KVs respectively)
o A bore hole
o 600 liter Water storage tank
o A fully equipped laboratory

• Training of 23 flayers at the Meat Training Institute
• Training of 6 supervisors at the Meat Training Institute followed by a further two weeks attachment at the recently re opened Kenya Meat Commission. 
• Registration of a cooperative society and recruitment of 1,500 members
• Basic equipment of the Slaughter House purchased
• Work to develop of a holding ground is scheduled to commence shortly.

Products and markets
The sweetest meat on planet earth!

It is undoubted that goat meat from Lomidat is very sweet and I can add it is the sweetest in the World.

Indeed “Lomidat� in the local language means something very difficult to achieve but is so sweet that once attained difficult to let go.

Due to the scant vegetation an animal grazing in the ASAL areas has to feed on hundreds of thousands of little tufts before it gets its daily fill. This very wide variety of consumed vegetation that animals here graze on coupled with the fact that shrubs that manage to grow in this very hostile climate confer unique organoleptic properties which give the animals and especially the goats a unique taste. The highest standards of hygiene and quality will be achieved in the entire processing. From the onset Good Manufacturing Practices will be adopted. Certification towards ISO 22000 (HACCP) will be sought followed by ISO 9000 -2000 and ISO 14000.

Turkana and the surrounding region has remained virgin land since creation. Pesticides, fertilizers and even herbicides have never been used making the vegetation natural and 100 % un adulterated.

A wide range of products will be available including local recipes such as sun- dried products – Ngatozaa and internationally re known products in addition to whole carcasses
Targeted markets include major towns in Kenya, Exports to the neighbouring countries the Middle East and the European Union.

At the moment we can only sell our products within the vicinity of the factory. To maximize the capacity we will need to transport our products to the major towns of Kenya including Nairobi, the Capital City which is 1,000 km away where we have clinched firm orders. We will however need two refrigerated Lorries to transport the meat.

Processed meat will enable us add value and fetch higher prices. Processing will enable us take leaner animals especially during the drought periods. We will therefore require processing equipment including sausage filling machines, a mincer, a curing facility and a canning line.

To ensure that the community benefits from this unique project, the first one in an Arid area in the Eastern Africa Region, a portion of the profits will be ploughed back to the community through the cooperative society. 

Opportunities to convert “Walking Capital� into “Economic Capital�

This cycle of loss of livestock can be avoided to give these communities a means of livelihood and militate against devastating effects of drought. You can participate in converting Walking Capital to Economic Capital.

According to the words of the outgoing UN Secretary General, Koffi Annan� If we do not make globalization work for all, in the end it will work for none. The unequal distribution of benefits and imbalances in global rule making will produce backlash and protectionism. And that in turn, threatens to undermine and ultimately unravel the open world economy�

Looking for partnership
If this presentation has touched you, you can be part of the solution to assist this community convert their vast Walking Capital into Economic Capital by partnering with AMREF and Terra Nuova as part of your organizations’ corporate social responsibility to fund additional activities which include two refrigerated lorries, and meat processing machines (sausage filling machines, corned beef salting machine, meat mincers and curing facility etc).

Please get in touch with;
AMREF Italia Onius
Via Boezio 17
00193 ROMA
Tel 06.99704650
Egiza.petroccione AT amref DOT it

Or
Mette Kjaer
Country Director
AMREF
P O Box 30125- 00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel 0254- 6994000
Email: mettek AT amrefke DOT org
http://www.amref.org/ke

For trade enquiries contact
Edward N Kobuthi
General Manager
Lomidat Meat Processors
African Medical and Research Foundation
P O Box 30125-00100, Nairobi Kenya
Tel 6994356/57/58
Fax 254 20-606340
Mobile 0736 296 658
Email: edwardk AT amrefke DOT org