Turkana aquifer and pastoralist development

The Drylands Learning and Capacity Building Initiative DLC (formerly the Regional Learning and Advocacy Programme REGLAP) has issued a discussion brief about development perspectives in view of the discovery of the huge Lotokipi aquifer in Turkana in northern Kenya. The brief, entitled “The Turkana aquifer discoveries and development proposals” (2014, 9pp), highlights the key findings from the UNESCO hydrological investigation in Turkana, and provides a commentary on it. It stresses that renewed support is required to integrate the livestock sector, which is an important economic pillar of livelihoods in Turkana. Development plans will also require ongoing support for the wildlife sector, a national asset that traditionally integrates with livestock, but can lead to conflicts with crop farmers. The brief also highlights the importance of community-level agricultural development rather than the centrist large-scale systems.

Posted on 12 July 2015 in Pastoralism & Extractives, Pastoralism & Natural Resources, Pastoralist Livelihoods & Nutrition