From livestock loss to resilience: How aggregation is changing pastoralism in Isiolo

In 2010, Isiolo, Kenya was ravaged by drought and Muhamed Hayota Dadable watched as his livestock vanished one by one. The experience left him with a profound lesson: if only he had known how to manage his wealth better, his life would have been vastly different. Today, 16 years later, the farmer credits his transformation to participating in the Nasole Cooperative and the Kenya Livestock Marketing and Resilience (KLMP) Program.

The cooperative has been instrumental in teaching Dadable about livestock aggregation, a concept that changed his entire approach towards his animals. Instead of viewing livestock as a mere symbol of wealth, Dadable now sees them as commercial assets that should generate income. By aggregating their livestock, farmers can combine their herds before selling, thereby increasing their bargaining power and capturing more value from their animals.

Dadable and his wife, both members of the cooperative, have benefited from access to savings and credit. For instance, when their daughter joined high school, Dadable used a cooperative loan to secure her admission. More importantly, the cooperative has provided them with direct access to buyers, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming transportation to distant markets.

But the impact of aggregation goes beyond livestock. Heifer International's KLMP Program also trained Dadable and other farmers in drought-resistant fodder production. Through fodder aggregation, farmers learn to grow, harvest, and store fodder, creating an additional source of income and ensuring their livestock survive during dry periods.

Moreover, even farmers without livestock are now planting fodder, recognizing its potential as a profitable commodity. This holistic approach to resilience has transformed Dadable's life, turning him from a helpless observer into an active participant in his own economic future.