Enhancing Feed Security in the IGAD Region

Introduction

The IGAD region comprises of seven member states (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda) of which about 60 - 70% of the landmass is Arid and Semi-arid Lands (ASALs). The ASALs are characterized by low erratic rainfall of up to 500mm per annum, cyclic devastating droughts and varying combinations of vegetative covers and soils. The majority of the 205 million people inhabiting the ASALs depend on livestock production and/or pastoralism which faces ecological constraints including climate extremes. The rangelands are the most vulnerable to climate variability, which further exacerbated by misuse and mismanagement of the land resource. Impact of climate change on range genetic resources is clearly manifested in steady deterioration of both the productivity and biological diversity coupled with dominance of undesirable and invasive plant species.