| dc.description.abstract | The beef sector plays a significant role in the livelihoods of communities in
Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). Despite the importance of beef
production, ASAL communities continue to experience high poverty rates. By
leveraging the sustainable livelihoods framework and employing Ordinary
Least Squares (OLS) regression, this study analyses the relationship between
beef production, marketing, and welfare in ASAL communities. Financial, social,
and physical capital are important in improving welfare. With regards to beef
marketing, commercial livestock farming households and paved county roads
had significant negative correlations with monetary poverty. Aridity levels were
also found to have a statistically significant influence on monetary poverty,
implying the need for targeted policies that acknowledge the distinct economic
and environmental conditions of ASALs. To enhance access to formal financial
services in ASALs, the recommendation is to establish strategic partnerships
with mobile money providers and leverage innovative insurance products such
as weather-indexed insurance. In addition, to strengthen commercial livestock
farming, this study advocates the formation of cooperatives or associations
among beef farmers in ASALs, aiming to bolster their bargaining power and
broaden market access. Prioritizing investment in crucial transportation routes
connecting beef-producing regions to markets is also imperative for optimizing
the physical capital in ASALs. Finally, due to the correlation between high
aridity levels and heightened monetary poverty, it is important to have targeted
interventions based on aridity levels. Specifically, for purely arid counties, this
study proposes the introduction of feedlot initiatives as a strategic approach
to fortify beef production and marketing. This would provide a controlled
environment for livestock production, thereby safeguarding cattle farmers
vulnerable to climate-induced shocks. | en |
