The government officials and partners meeting in Lokichar, Turkana South for a second day, have issued an advisory to the pastoralists across Turkana County in a move keen to avert any emergency arising from the predicted above-normal rainfall of 55% posing worst-case scenario in hotspot areas prone to flash floods.
On Agriculture, Livestock Development, and Fisheries, livestock keepers residing along the riverine of Kerio, Turkwel, and other seasonal rivers, Plains of Kalapata and Lotikipi, and natural/man-made water bodies are advised to move with their livestock to higher grounds, to avoid adverse effects of heavy rains. They need to graze their livestock away from flood-prone areas.
Livestock Veterinary Doctors have advised livestock keepers to build enough strong animal shelters to protect the weak and young stock from the adverse effects of cold weather.
Agro-pastoralists have also been encouraged to conserve while storing enough forage for the livestock for future use.
Pastoralists have also been advised to be on the lookout for enhanced livestock diseases like Rift Valley Fever and other priority zoonotic diseases.
.Farmers should construct and rehabilitate rainwater harvesting structures in rain-fed areas in parts of Turkana South, Loima, and Turkana West, to minimize the speed of surface run-off along the fields for instance, trapezoidal bunds, contours, and trees
According to Agriculture experts, farmers should promote and use water-efficient technologies for micro and macro-drip irrigation in some parts of Turkana East, Turkana South, and Turkana Central.
The experts told the farmers to keep the irrigation infrastructure well maintained throughout the season, especially the intakes and checkboxes to avoid being swept away by flash floods.
Partners supporting horticultural farming have advised farmers to use the already established horticultural demonstration farms for planting while harnessing surface run-off water.
As a result of flooding of rivers Napasinyang in Kalokol and Kerio inhibiting market access, the fisherfolk should consider frying as a value addition, as it is less affected by changes in weather conditions.
To avoid contamination of water for fish processing, farmers should enhance water by treating it with chemicals, as well as enhance fish quality assurance inspection activities from time to time.
The Multi-Hazard Preparedness/Contingency Planning Meeting for El-Nino continues on Saturday at Lokichar.
