Goat Rearing as a Livelihood Strategy of Turkana Pastoralists
Abstract
Imana, C (2008), Goat Rearing as a Livelihood Strategy of Turkana Pastoralists in North West Kenya, Masters in Development Studies mini-thesis, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein.
ABSTRACT
The increasing human population, urbanization and the demand for a higher income, coupled with changing consumer preferences are creating a greater demand for livestock and their products. Generally, goats are ubiquitous and contribute significantly to the subsistence, economic and social livelihood of a large part of the rural population in low-input, smallholder production systems in the developing countries. Goats have many advantages over other livestock in that they can be utilised as a source of meat, hides, fibre and milk, and secondary products developed from these sources.
Although the importance of goats is well recognized in Turkana, Kenya, this aspect has not been well documented. This study aims at contributing and filling this information gap. The overarching purpose of this study is therefore to investigate goat rearing as a sustainable livelihood strategy of the pastoralist communities. Goat rearing will also be compared with other livelihood strategies in the Turkana district. The study also identifies several stresses or constraints to goat production, and recommends on the way forward to improve goat production efficiency.