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The livestock sector is an important global player with significant and wide-ranging
social, economic and environmental impacts. Worldwide, livestock production provides
livelihoods for 1 billion of the world’s poor. However, the livestock sector is also
a major driver of deforestation, land degradation, pollution, climate change and biodiversity
loss.
Kenya is a clear illustration of livestock’s complex social, economic and environmental
roles. In the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) of Kenya, the livestock sector provides
livelihoods for 95% of families and employs 10 million people. However, pastoralism
in ASALs faces many challenges. Population and livestock growth has led to overgrazing,
creating a negative-feedback loop of environmental degradation, reduced livestock
yields and greater poverty. In addition, pastoralists lack access to capital, markets
and extension services, such as veterinary care.
This report conducted an analysis of the livestock market and feasibility study of
a social business that trains pastoralists in better land management techniques called
Holistic Management. The study interviewed 30 pastoralists, from the village of Olekimunke,
examining the different challenges they face raising livestock and their interest
in the business model.
Based on the information provided in interviews, pastoralists in Olekimunke are experiencing
negative environmental change due to land degradation and desertification. These
negative processes are partially driven by climatic factors, such as more frequent
and severe droughts, as well as increasing human settlement and changes in land rights
and practices. In addition, the markets in which pastoralists depend on to meet their
subsistence livelihoods, do not provide enough services.
The business model proposed in this document offers a potential solution to the environmental
and market challenges faced by pastoralists in Olekimunke. The model provides pastoralists
with the training and resources to implement Holistic Management and provides a vehicle
through which the pastoralists can organize and successfully manage their land. Furthermore,
the Company increases pastoralists access to capital, markets and other resources,
such as training, which will further improve their livelihoods. As a result, pastoralists
expressed a strong interest in the business model, which can potentially improve their
livelihoods, thus demonstrating both its feasibility and viability.
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