The Government, through the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), has intensified drought mitigation efforts by distributing livestock feed supplements to pastoral households affected by the ongoing dry spell.
The drought pellets are designed to help livestock maintain body weight and condition at a time when natural pasture and browse have become severely limited across many arid and semi-arid areas.
The intervention specifically targets core breeding and milking animals that remain within settlements while larger herds migrate in search of pasture and water.
According to NDMA, the feed supplements are playing a critical role in protecting pastoral livelihoods by sustaining productive animals that are essential for household nutrition and income.
Each 50-kilogram bag of drought pellets can sustain one cow for up to 25 days when fed at a recommended rate of two kilograms per animal per day.
For sheep and goats, the recommended feeding rate is half a kilogram per animal per day, ensuring smaller stock also benefit from the intervention.
The livestock feed support forms part of the government’s broader drought response strategy aimed at reducing livestock losses and safeguarding pastoral economies during prolonged dry conditions.
Officials said the programme is intended to cushion vulnerable households by preserving breeding stock and milk-producing animals, which are key to food security in pastoral communities.
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting both lives and livelihoods through timely interventions designed to strengthen resilience among pastoral households facing recurring climate shocks.