Some areas in Africa are suffering from the worst drought that's been seen in the past 35 years.

Kenya, Somalia, and other regions, have seen drastically low amounts of rainfall, mixed with high temperatures. The conditions shouldn't really come as a surprise though, seeing as researchers from the Africa Climate Outlook Forum have previously warned that there would be depressed amounts of rainfall.

They estimated that this would in-return cause a negative impact on food security along with water availability in the region, in regions where many people are still struggling just to survive.

Drought patterns also aren't new to this region by any means.

Back in 2011, it was thought that the drought experienced then was the worst to be seen in 60 years or more. The difficult conditions affect millions of people in the region. And because of the difficulty in trying to live, particularly in places like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia etc, it's caused many people (who had the ability to) leave their home and hope for the chance to find somewhere else that they might be able to survive.

Many years ago, the government there introduced a plant, the Prosopis juliflora, that was intended to try and help communities in the region cope with droughts, but it backfired and became an invasive alien weed that has fueled havoc for those in the country.

Many farmers say that the government having introduced this anti-drought plant has now in-return made life even harder for them.

The plant made headlines when back in 2006, a toothless goat had appeared in court as part of a lawsuit against the government for their introduction of this plant. The goat had allegedly consumed so much of the plant that it eroded its teeth. The lawsuit was eventually tossed out of court.

Farmers say that the plants are difficult to remove because when they cut them they'll grow back even stronger. To remove the plant it needs to be uprooted and that's hard work. It is also able to flourish in the dry season and the seeds are spread generously thanks to animals and the wind.

Researchers have previously declared the Prosopis juliflora to be one of the most destructive invader plant species in the world.

The drought has caused a spike in food prices as well as fueling food shortages. And it's reported that since the end of 2016 that for millions in the region that the situation has become dire.

Food prices up 50% in 2017...

The cost of maize flour has increased as much as 31x, milk by 12x, sugar by around 21x. Along with that, the supply of products for meat, milk, and grain, has declined. Waterholes drying-up have lead to devastated crop yields and fueled livestock depletion.

The food that has been destroyed from droughts, according to a report from the World Bank, is estimated to be enough to feed a country with the population of Germany--around 82 million--every single day for 1 year. And at the beginning of 2017, the government of Kenya had declared the drought to be a national emergency.

Some farmers in the region have turned to grass-fed solutions to try and tackle the drought.

By feeding the livestock indigenous grass, as opposed to the traditional corn maize, they've been able to dramatically increase milk production. With the increase in production and that boost in income, it's helping to improve the standard of living for farmers by enabling them to do more for themselves.

One 52-year-old farmer, Wilfrida Olaly from Kenya, says that by making the switch that it's helped to improve milk production between 1-1.8 gallons every day and that she didn't know she might ever be able to earn this much for her milk products. Olaly says that she has been struggling with low milk yield for over a decade, since she started back in 1998.

There are now a growing number of farmers in the region, along with Olaly, who are looking to make the switch to grass as well. Aside from just feeding it to the livestock, some farmers have also taken up growing the grass in the region, known as Boma Rhodes grass, and they are able to harvest every few months.

Research scientists have previously suggested that grasses are easier on a cow's digestive system to break down and that they're going to reap more of a nutritional benefit from eating grass, which will result in a boost in productivity.

Many individuals in the region are also trying to acquire other skills that can help them to tackle the drought.

Entrepreneurship programs in the region are teaching those in the community how to adapt and start their own businesses. Relying on aid and food distribution isn't going to effectively provide a remedy to the problem. That's why community members in these regions have been looking for more sustainable, long-term solutions that might bring real change; this means empowering as many as possible to try and achieve self-sufficiency.

Pics:
Oxfam via britsinkenya
pixabay
wikipedia
pixabay
pixabay

Sources:
https://britsinkenya.com/2017/09/24/the-relationship-between-drought-and-famine-lessons-from-the-horn-of-africa/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13944550
https://www.irinnews.org/feature/2017/12/28/kenya-s-drought-solution-becomes-major-menace-once-again
https://www.nation.co.ke/business/seedsofgold/Farm-grass-is-my-fodder-for-creating-wealth/2301238-3807924-pvfm8d/index.html
https://psmag.com/economics/kenyan-women-are-growing-some-grass
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13944550
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35500820
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/jun/02/drought-centre-stage-kenya-election-campaign-food-prices-rise
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/apr/25/satellite-images-trigger-payouts-for-kenya-farmers-in-grip-of-drought
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/24/food-ruined-by-drought-could-feed-more-than-80m-a-day-says-world-bank
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-drought/drought-to-intensify-in-kenya-in-2017-new-early-warning-system-shows-idUSKBN1421WH
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000200204/commercial-hay-growing-gives-farmers-a-lifeline
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-11/kenya-declares-drought-a-national-disaster/8261970
https://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/how-women-farmers-are-using-native-grass-to-beat-drought-conditions-in-kenya/94343
https://www.ft.com/content/8d2041ce-19fe-11e7-bcac-6d03d067f81f
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-women-drought/down-to-business-drought-hit-kenyan-women-trade-their-way-out-of-poverty-idUSKBN1F71EX

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