MT ELGON DISTRICT CROP LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES ASSESSMENT FOR
MEDIUM AND HIGH RAINFALL AREAS OCTOBER 2011
Assessment Team:
Stephen Andika
Simon Mwangangi
Dominic Kitaka
DAO Mt Elgon
DLPO Mt Elgon
DFO Mt Elgon
Ministry of Fisheries Development Headquarters
Ministry of Livestock Development, Headquarters
Ministry of Agriculture, Headquarters
Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Livestock
Ministry of Fisheries Development
0
1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 2
1.1 District Background-............................................................................................................................ 2
1.2 Food Security Trends .......................................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Current Factors Affecting Food security in the District) ..................................................................... 3
2.0 DISTRICT FOOD SECURITY SITUATION .................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Current Food Security Situation .......................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Current Shocks and Hazards ............................................................................................................... 3
3.0 IMPACT OF SHOCKS AND HAZARDS ........................................................................................................ 4
3.1 CROP PRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 5
Crop performance ..................................................................................................................................... 5
Rain-fed crop Production in the district.................................................................................................... 5
Current crop condition and stage of development .................................................................................. 6
Current Maize stocks ................................................................................................................................ 6
Post-harvest management........................................................................................................................ 6
3.2 LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 7
3.2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 7
3.2.3 Livestock Productivity ...................................................................................................................... 8
3.2.3 Livestock marketing ....................................................................................................................... 10
3.3 FISHERIES .............................................................................................................................................. 11
3.3.1 Back ground ................................................................................................................................... 11
3.3.2 Aquaculture.................................................................................................................................... 11
3.3.3 Capture Fisheries ........................................................................................................................... 13
3.3.4 Main methods of preservation of fish ........................................................................................... 13
3.3.5 Fish storage facilities ...................................................................................................................... 13
3.3.6 Fish prices....................................................................................................................................... 13
3.3.7 Fish Imports and exports ............................................................................................................... 13
3.3.8 Challenges facing fish productions ................................................................................................ 14
3.4 MARKETS AND TRADE ........................................................................................................................... 14
3.4.1. Market operations ........................................................................................................................ 14
3.4 2. Market Supply and Traded Volumes............................................................................................. 14
3.4.3. Commodity Demand ..................................................................................................................... 15
6.4. Market Prices ................................................................................................................................... 15
Price trends for maize ............................................................................................................................. 15
4.0 FOOD SECURITY PROGNOSIS ................................................................................................................ 16
5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND INTERVENTIONS ........................................................................................ 16
1
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 District Background
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Name of county-:- Bungoma
Number of Divisions; - 2
Number of Constituencies: - 1 (Mt.Elgon)
Names Of divisions: - 1. Kapsokwony 2.Kaptama.
Number of Locations: 8
Number of sub-locations: 20
Area of district: 433.8 sq. km
Arable land: 124.7 Km2
Total forest cover: 309.1 Km2
Population: 69,904 (2009 Census )Male: 34,817,Female: 35,087
Annual precipitations: 1400mm – 2100mm bimodal
Altitude -1800-4320 meters a.s.l
Per cent contribution of agriculture to rural employment in Mt Elgon dsitrict:60%
Per cent contribution of agriculture to total revenue in Mt Elgon district:45%
Poverty levels in the district : 56%
Average farm size;-3 acres
Average family sizes;-6 persons
Key livelihoods in the district
1. Farming : 80% of the population
2. Formal employment :10 % ,,
3. Business: 5 % ,,
4. Quarrying: 2 % ,,
5. Logging and charcoal: 3% ,,
1.2 Food Security Trends
Most food commodity prices had remained high in the last three months occasioned by the
previous shortage. The maize prices were highest in July and lowest in September. The prices of
maize were caused by high demand and scarcity as most farmers had sold off their maize in
earlier parts of the year. Maize is taken as cash and food crop in the district. Beans prices were
high in some months due to scarcity. Food security trends: - food security situation for the last
six months pegged on prices.
month
maize
beans
potatoes
April
40/= per kg
75/= per kg
1800/= per 110 bag
2
May
50/= per kg
75/= per kg
1500/= per 110 bag
June
70/= per kg
35/= per kg
1500/= per 110 bag
July
75/= per kg
40/= kg
1500/= per 110 bag
August
40/= per kg
50/= kg
1800/= per 110 bag
September
35/= per kg.
75/= per
2000/= per 110 bag
In the next three months many farmers will have harvested their maize and therefore expect
farmers to have enough food. However many of the households are expected to sell a lot of their
produce as this is their source of income
1.3 Current Factors Affecting Food security in the District)
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

High input prices
Poor roads
Unreliable rainfall -Late onset of rains affecting performance
Soil erosion affecting soil fertility
Fluctuating market prices
Dependence on food crops as source of income
Pests and Diseases
2.0 DISTRICT FOOD SECURITY SITUATION
2.1 Current Food Security Situation
At the moment there is enough food at the households. Harvesting is still on-going. If all is
harvested and not sold can last up to next harvesting season(September 2012).The district has
in stock 354,778 bags of maize,110 bags of finger millet and 80,000 of beans .
2.2 Current Shocks and Hazards
Rainfall performance: Kapsokwony station
3
Rainfall mm
Rainfall distribution
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
2009 mm
2010 mm
2011 mm
Jan
Feb March April
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Month
Remarks
The weather was generally good for all the crops though rain started late. Due to late planting,
crop yields reduced as shown from the production levels below. The long rains started late this
year as compared to last year as shown on the table above.
Rainfall performance the last two seasons
 The short rain for last year was not adequate for crop growing hence short season
production was below average
 This year’s longs were adequate though the distribution was poor which may affect
production slightly.
Current Shocks and hazards
Crop
Maize
Major hazard eg drought, hailstones,
Major hazards during L.R in 2010
floods etc during L.R 2011
Hazard
% affected crop area Hazard
% affected crop area
Hailstones
30. %- The damage drought
40%
reduced the yields
by 20%.
The drought reported was a dry spell experienced during the growing season
3.0 IMPACT OF SHOCKS AND HAZARDS
4
3.1 CROP PRODUCTION
Introduction
Major food crops and contribution to food and income
Crop
%Contribution
%Contribution to
to food
income
Maize
50
50
Irish potatoes
10
90
Beans
65
35
Maize is taken as a food and cash crop by over 90% of the farmers. This affects food security at
the HH levels later parts of the year
Potential for irrigation
Description
Kapsokwony Kaptama Total
2
Area (Km )
255.66
209.95
456.61
Arable(Ha)
58.50
66.2
124.7
Cultivated(Ha)
5000
6200
11,200
Irrigable(Ha)
15
10
25
Irrigated(Ha)
10
5
15
Need drainage(HA)
0
Drained(Ha)
0
Dominant soils
Clay loam
Clay
Clay loam
loam
Crop performance
Rain-fed crop Production in the district
Crop
Area planted
current year
(Ha)
12,000
Long Term
Average
area planted
(Ha)
Target
14,000
Current year
production
(90 kg bags)
Projected/actua
l
280,000
Long Term
Average
production
(90 kg bags)
Target
350,000
Maize
Beans
5,000
6,000
5,000
12,000
Irish potatoes
4,500
6,000
250,000
700,000bags
For maize and beans targets not achieved due to;
5
 Inadequate Kenya seed supplies
 High input costs
 late onset of rainfall Low achievements
The Maize crop performance is fair and it’s expected that Yield will improve from 65% to 70%
in the year in Kaptama and Kapsokwony divisions as compared to last year. Yield may not be
good in Cheptais division due to erratic rainfall received. However the NAAIAP supplies were
late and this affected the expected yields of 35 bags per acre to about 25 bags per acre as
observed from the crop performance in the field.
Current crop condition and stage of development
Most crops are at harvesting stage but a few farmers have started harvesting. The long rains
season was better than last year. Some farmers plan to plant short season crop but it has not been
reliable.
Current Maize stocks
Maize stocks
Quantities of maize held in
the district (90-kg bags)
By Households
Traders
NCPB
245,000
100,000
9778 bags
Millers
Total
0
354,778
Long Term Average
quantities held in the
district (90-kg bags)
At the moment there is enough food at the households. Harvesting is still on-going .If all is
harvested and not sold can last up to next harvesting season (September 2012)
Post-harvest management
Current storage methods at HH level are satisfactory. There no cases of aflatoxin and maize
rotting reports. Most farmers are storing their produce in their houses in sacks and bins as they
do not have stores. The sacks are made of polythene which is not suitable for storage of cereals.
This is so because of the high cost and unavailability of sisal bags. This affects the quality of the
produce because of poor moisture management. Loses are also experienced from rodents and
weevils.
Food requirements
Division
No of HH
Food
requirement
for next six
Own production Surplus/
bags
deficit
6
Remarks
months bags
kapsokwony
Kaptama
6,650
7555
240,000
242445
3.2 LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION
3.2.1 Introduction
The major livestock types are :Indegenous poultry(61,960),zebu cattle(12,960),dairy
cattle(10,090),sheep(7360) and local goats(3,260) and dairy goats(163).The local chicken
and local goats are easy source of income although bthere is a great potential for daily
income from sale of milk.
3.3.2 Forage and feed supplements a).Forage and feed supplements
-The forage condition is good and normal
-Current available feeds are:
 Pastures and fodders-grass leys,nappier,,natural pastures for ruminants.
 Suppliments-Dairy meal,Mollasses,Mineral suppliments,Maize stovers-for the dairy
animals and small stock.
 Chick mash,Growers mash,Layers mash for chicken.
 The current available feeds show the normal situation.
Indicate Trend of fodder development (ha)
Fodder type
2010
2009
2008
No figure
No figure
No figure
NB. no figures were availed by the district staff
Current acreage of fodder :no figures were availed by the district office.
Complained of lack of qualified field officers to do the estimate. However they indicated that the
amount was below normal due to preference for short season crops like tomatoes, onions, and
also grazing in the Government forest.
Amount of feed concentrates held by stockists and farmers:
Generally the concentrates were available and enough though the sales were low.
7
Duration the feeds will be available:
It was indicated that feeds (especially forages) will be available for the next 4 months ie
Oct,Nov,Dec & Jan).Feb and March the feeds will have reduced drastically.
Factors affecting access and availability of livestock feeds:
 Difficult terrain making transportation of commercial feeds&suppliments very difficult.
 Few stockists .
 Transport cost is high.
Feed concentrates Price Trends costs (Kshs)
Feed Type
2011
2010
2009
2008
Dairy Meal
-
-
-
-
Calf pellets
-
-
-
-
Layers
Marsh
-
-
-
-
Growers
march
-
-
-
Chick Marsh -
-
-
NB The staff at Mount Elgon promised to sent the figures later
3.2.3 Livestock Productivity
The body condition of cattle, sheep, goats and poultry is good due to availability of feeds.
Birth rate is normal with an approximately 80% calving rates.
Milk availability
House hold milk per day is about 3 litres which is normal.
Average price per litre is 30/= which is normal price.
Livestock holding:
 Most families keep approximately 10 chicken per house hold, Dairy approximately 2 per
HH, Sheep and goats about 6 per HH, Draught animals approximately 2 per HH.
Variation in holdings:
 None
8
Milk Marketing Channels
Total
Production
Market outlet Market inlet
Price Kshs
Remarks
3,451,424.17
Local
30
No organized
marketing
channels
local
Livestock diseases and mortality rate
Cattle :

Tick borne diseases :East coast fever and Anaplasmosis.
Control measures
Prompt treatment and advising farmers on tick control by hand spraying since there are no dips
working.
 Foot and mouth disease
Control measures:
Intensive surveillance
Quarantine and vaccinations
A total of 5710 head cattle and 123 sheep vaccinated in March hence no mortalities.
 Mastitis
No mortalities. Economically important
Control measures
Farmers are being taught on clean milk production and milking techniques whenever such cases
are reported.
 Blackquarter/ Anthrax
Through disease surveillance and vaccinations 3628 head cattle and 14 sheep vaccination in June
2011.
 Internal parasites
Worms are very common
Mortalities in small stock and calves are common up to 10-20%
Control measures:
Farmers being advised on good animal husbandry by deworming their livestock regularly using
appropriate dewormers.
-Poultry
 Newcastle and fowl typhoid diseases.
Mortality 60-100%
9
Control measures
Training farmers on routine vaccination on their farms.
-Donkeys
Worms, overworking and cruelty of the animals very common. Whoever no mortalities.
Control measures
 Advising farmers to deworm their animals regularly
 Not to overwork their animals
 Never use sick (wounded) animals.
-Availability of vaccines and services
§ Blanthax
§ FMD (foot & mouth disease)
§ Rabies
§ L.S.D (Lumpy Skin Disease)
3.2.3 Livestock marketing
Livestock marketing
Prices of major livestock types and products
DISTRICT
Current farm Market price
gate price
Cattle-dairy
Cattle-meat
Goat-dairy
Goatlocal/meat
Sheep
Hen/cock
Milk/per litre
Hides& skin
Hides/kg
Skins/piece
Market price same
period last year
2500040,000/=
8,50040,000/=
6,00010,000/=
2,0005,000/=
2,0005,000/=
300-500/=
20-30/=
30,000-50,000/=
30,000-45,000/=
10,000/=-50,000/=
8,000-45,000/=
6,000-10,000/=
6,000-10,000/=
2,000-5,000/=
2,000-5,000/=
2,000-5,000/=
2,000-5,000/=
350-900/=
20-30/=
350-800/=
20-30/=
-
25
125
15
120
10
Reasons for
differences or
similarities
Inflation
Main challenges facing food security and livestock production:
 § Poor marketing system- no operational auction yard in the district .
 § High cost of feeds especially concentrates.
 § Inadequate livestock extension personnel.
 § No banking facilities or co-operative SACCO for loaning and keeping money for the
farmers.
Names of stakeholders involved in livestock activities
 § Action AID- involved in capacity building
 § VI AGROFORESTRY- involveD in capacity building
 § Aphia PLUS assist sheep farmers
 § Ministry of Livestock Development involved with extension services
Conclusion:
Closing statement on the overall food security status in the District
§ District is currently food secure in terms of milk, meat but insecure in terms of eggs.
Statement on the impact of livestock production in the District
§ Livestock production provide easy and immediate access to money through sale of small stock
and chicken with milk providing a more regular monthly income.
3.3 FISHERIES
3.3.1 Back ground
Mt Elgon district is a high fisheries potential area. Fisheries activities are undertaken through
out the district and include both capture fisheries in various rivers in the district which were
stocked with trout for sports fishing and other riverine fish like African cat fish and tilapia. Fish
farming has been has been practiced in the district for along time but has been boosted by the
ESP Programme implemented by the government for the last two years. Other fisheries activities
involve limited trade in fish products that is brought in from outside the district.
3.3.2 Aquaculture
Fish production
Total no of fish
farmers
Total of fish
ponds
Pond size(area in
M2 )
Sp
Stocke
d
Stocked
No of
farmer
s
Not
stocke
d
Not
stocke
d
11
Stocking Monthly fish harvesting in
Kg
No. of
fingerlin
gs
stocked
in the
J
F M A M J J A
last
6month
Tilapi
a
287
169
Claria
s
5
5
143
50700
42900
53000
0
7 0
3
0
2
1
3
6 3 4
3 1 8
9 7 0
Mt Elgon district has a total 287 farmers who participated in the Fish Farming Enterprise and
productivity program. The district has 312 fish ponds covering an area of 93,600 Sq meters of
which 169 are stocked whereas 143 are not. The ponds have been stocked with 53,000 fingerling
of which Nile tilapia.
Production trends for the farmed fish are as follows
species Jan
Tilapia 0
Clarias
Feb.
73
March April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
0
0
213 639 317 480
Availability of fish farming inputs
Fingerlings
Other fish inputs
Species Sources
Unit price
%
found
%
sourced
in the
from
outside
district
Input
Current normal type
sources
%
found
in the
Unit price
%
sourced
Current Normal
from
district outside
the
district
the
district
Tilapia
0
100
7
5
Feed
-
100
85
87
Clarias
0
100
7
5
manure
100
0
20
95
Trout
0
fertilizer -
100
95
-
Carp
0
liners
100
-
12
-
3.3.3 Capture Fisheries
The district has capture fisheries limited to the rivers where the production is negligible.
3.3.4 Main methods of preservation of fish
The main method used to preserve fish in the district deep frying.
3.3.5 Fish storage facilities
There are various dry stores for dried omena within the main markets in the district
3.3.6 Fish prices
Main fish
Species rank
Normal
sources
Current prices per Normal prices
Reasons for
Kg
difference
Wholesale Retail Wholesale Retail
Rastreonobola L
50
75
Availability
Victoria
Tilapia
L
150
320
Availability
Victoria
Nile perch
L
50
80
Availability
Victoria
Cat fish
Ponds
120
200
Availability
L
Victoria
The prices depend on the availability of fish in the district which is brought out from out side the
district
3.3.7 Fish Imports and exports

Estimated Amount of Fish Imported into the District; Exported Outside the District
Fish species
Estimated quantities
of fish from the
district sold outside
per month
600
Remarks
Tilapia
Estimated quantities
of fish sourced from
outside the district
per month
100
Restreonobola
500
Nil
The most consumed fish in
the district
Nile perch
150
Nil
Imported in fried and
smoked form
13
Most of the fish from ponds
is exported
Cat fish
10
20
Not prefer due to cultural
beliefs
3.3.8 Challenges facing fish productions

Lack of a hatchery in the district to produce readily available fingerlings

High costs of feeds which are manufactured outside the district

Lack of local milling capacity for production of feeds

Low restocking of FFE&PP ponds

Un favourable weather conditions for production of fingerlings
3.3.9 Summary of interviews with Farmers, Fishers and Opinion leaders

Both the farmer and opinion leader agreed that fish farming can be to address food
security

The farmer complained about the high cost of feeds and the time it takes to get
fingerlings after ordering

Fisheries production can be used to address food security issues
3.3.10 Conclusion
The district can become a leading producer of farmed fish if the challenges enumerated here in
are addressed
3.4 MARKETS AND TRADE
3.4.1. Market operations
There has not been any market disruptions reported in this district as most of the produce
purchased in major markets is sourced from local production.
3.4 2. Market Supply and Traded Volumes
The demand for produce is within normal.
This was the same scenario same time last year other than the difference in price
Maize and beans are sourced from local production as the district is food secure
14
3.4.3. Commodity Demand
The demand for major food crops is within normal.
Prices will go down as harvesting continues
6.4. Market Prices
DISTRICT
Current farm
gate price
Market price)
Market price
same period last
year
Reasons for differences
or similarity
Maize
50/=per 2kg
55-60/=per 2kg
30/=per 2kg
High rate of inflation
Sorghum
-
100/=per 2kg
100/= per 2kg
Not a favourable crop
Finger millet
100/=per 2 kg
120/= per 2 kg
100/= per 2 kg
High rate of inflation
Rice
-
140/= per kg
100/= per kg
High rate of inflation
Beans
120 per 2 kg
150/= per 2 kg
100/= per 2 kg
High rate of inflation
Cassava
-
100/= per 2 kg
100/= per 2 kg
Sweet potato
-
20 per kg
15/= per kg
High rate of inflation
Potato
1500/= per bag 2000/=per bag
1500/= per bag
High rate of inflation
Price trends for maize
Jan Feb Marc April May
2010 45 45 50
50
50
2011 85 90 110
115
120
June
50
130
Jul
50
150
Aug
50
100
15
Sept
55
100
Oct
40
50
Nov
40
Dec
50
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
2010
Ju
l
Au
g
Se
pt
O
ct
N
ov
D
ec
2011
Ja
n
Fe
b
M
ar
c
Ap
ril
M
ay
Ju
ne
Price Ksh
Price comparison
Month
4.0 FOOD SECURITY PROGNOSIS
Food security situation in the six months prices are predicted to change as indicated in the table
below
Month
Maize prices
Potatoes prices
Beans prices
October
50/= per kg
2000/= per 110kg bag
75/= per kg
November
35/= per kg
1800/= per 110kg bag
70/= per kg
December
40/=per kg
1800/= per 110kg bag
75/= per kg
January
45 /= per kg
2000/= per 110kg bag
80/= per kg
February
50/= per kg
2000/= per 110kg bag
85/= per kg
March
55/= per kg
2500/= per 110 kg bag
100/= per kg
Remarks:
We do not expect much production during the short rains while the food security indicators are
expected as follows;
 Market Prices are likely to increase
 HH stocks will reduce due to sales to earn income
 Stocks on market will reduce
5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS AND INTERVENTIONS
(i)
Interventions
Crops
16
Ongoing Interventions
Food interventions
 No food interventions
Non- food intervention
Intervention
Objectives
Interventio
n Targets
Cost
Area-
Supply of
Farm inputs
and maize
seed
Improved
food
security
and maize
production
in the
district
Avail clean
seed to
farmers
1500
farmers
Ksh 10 M
District
wide
10 tons of
clean seeds
acquired
Kshs460,000
District
wide
Potato seed
bulking
No of
beneficia
ries
15,000
farmers
Implement
ation time
frame
Long rains
2011
Implementati
on
stakeholders
MOA
(NAAIAP)
30 groups
(800
farmers)
Short rains
2011
bulking and
Long rains
planting.
MOA
(NALEP
GOK)
Livestock
On-going food security interventions
Interventi
on
Objecti
ves
Intervens Co
ion
st
targets
Area
No.of
beneficia
ries
Implement
ation
timetable
Dairy
Improve
ment
Improv
e
family
health
&
income
16 cows
Kapsokw
ony Loc.
120
2008-2011
1.3
m
Recommends
Crops
Food interventions
NIL
17
Implement
ation
stakeholder
s
Heifer
Internation
al
Non- food interventions
Medium to long term interventions

Organized marketing system. Millers and NCPB should move closer to the farmers
by opening stores at village level.

Farmers to promote cereal banking

Improve road infrastructure to help produce reach market

Increase grant like NMK to benefit more farmers

Increase the subsidized inputs to tame the soaring input prices
a) Improve fertilizer access to farmers through

NAIAP project

Subsidized fertilizer
b) Strengthen NCPB and other institutions to stabilize prices by buying from farmers. bring
nearer /open sate light stores at village level to near farmers and avoid exploitation by
middle men
c) Training of farmers on the need to store their produce well to avoid glut in the market
while encouraging smooth market
Livestock
 § More capacity building to the farmers through extension service to modernize their
livestock production.
 § Rehabilitation of milk cooling plant at Kaptama and transport to K.C.C.
 § Improvement and rehabilitation of road infrastructure.
 § Need to have more livestock extension personnel.
18