#livestock trade Kenya

[farmerstrend]

Government Imposes Movement Restrictions on Unvaccinated Cattle in Kenya

“The Kenyan government has introduced strict movement restrictions on unvaccinated cattle to curb the spread of foot and mouth disease. Learn how this regulation affects farmers and the livestock industry.” “Kenya enforces new livestock vaccination laws to combat foot and mouth disease. Discover the impact on farmers, the importance of herd immunity, and how to obtain a vaccination…

[beardedmrbean]

French farming unions are taking aim at the European Union’s free-trade agreements, which they say open the door to unfair competition from products arriving from overseas. At a time when the EU is urging farmers to adopt more sustainable – and sometimes more costly – agricultural practices, unions say these trade deals are making it hard for them to stay solvent.

French farmers say that one of their biggest fears is that Chilean apples, Brazilian grains and Canadian beef will flood the European market, thereby undermining their livelihoods. France’s farmers continued to demonstrate on the country’s motorways on Wednesday, protesting against rising costs, over-regulation and free-trade agreements –partnerships between the EU and exporting nations that the farming unions say leads to unfair competition. 

The EU has signed several free-trade agreements in recent years, all with the objective of facilitating the movement of goods and services. But farmers say the deals bring with them insurmountable challenges.

"These agreements aim to reduce customs duties, with maximum quotas for certain agricultural products and non-tariff barriers," said Elvire Fabry, senior researcher at the Jacques Delors Institute, a French think-tank dedicated to European affairs. "They also have an increasingly broad regulatory scope to promote European standards for investment, protection of intellectual property, geographical indications and sustainable development standards."

South American trade deal in the crosshairs

Some non-EU countries – such as Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland – maintain comprehensive free-trade agreements with the EU because they are part of the European Economic Area. This allows them to benefit from the free movement of goods, services, capital and people.

Other nations farther afield have signed more variable agreements with the EU, including Canada, Japan, Mexico, Vietnam and Ukraine. The EU also recently signed an accord with Kenya and a deal with New Zealand that will come into force this year; negotiations are also under way with India and Australia.    

However, a draft agreement between the EU and the South American trade bloc Mercosur is creating the most concern. Under discussion since the 1990s, this trade partnership between Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay would create the world's largest free-trade area, a market encompassing 780 million people. 

French farmers are particularly concerned about the deal’s possible effect on agriculture. The most recent version of the text introduces quotas for Mercosur countries to export 99,000 tonnes of beef, 100,000 tonnes of poultry and 180,000 tonnes of sugar per year, with little or no customs duties imposed. In exchange, duties would also be lowered on exports from the EU on many “protected designation of origin” (PDO) products. 

At a time when the EU is urging farmers to adopt more sustainable agricultural practices, French unions say these agreements would open the door to massive imports – at more competitive prices – of products that do not meet the same environmental standards as those originating in Europe. French farmers are calling out what they say is unfair competition from farmers in South America who can grow GMO crops and use growth-promoting antibiotics on livestock, which is banned in the EU. 

Trade unions from various sectors went into action after the European Commission informed them on January 24 that negotiations with Mercosur could be concluded "before the end of this mandate", i.e., before the European Parliament elections in June.      

The FNSEA, France’s biggest farming union, immediately called for a "clear rejection of free-trade agreements" while the pro-environmental farming group Confédération Paysanne (Farmers' Confederation) called for an "immediate end to negotiations" on this type of agreement.   

A mixed record

"In reality, the impact of these free-trade agreements varies from sector to sector," said Fabry. "Negotiations prior to agreements aim to calibrate the opening up of trade to limit the negative impact on the most exposed sectors. And, at the same time, these sectors can benefit from other agreements. In the end, it's a question of finding an overall balance."

This disparity is glaringly obvious in the agricultural sector. "The wine and spirits industry as well as the dairy industry stand to gain more than livestock farmers, for example," said Fabry. These sectors are the main beneficiaries of free-trade agreements, according to a 2023 report by the French National Assembly.

"The existence of trade agreements that allow customs duty differentials to be eliminated is an 'over-determining factor' in the competitiveness of French wines," wrote FranceAgriMer, a national establishment for agriculture and maritime products under the authority of the French ministry of agriculture in a 2021 report. The majority of free-trade agreements lower or abolish customs duties to allow the export of many PDO products, a category to which many wines belong.

However, the impact on meat is less clear-cut. While FranceAgriMer says the balance between imports and exports appears to be in the EU's favour for pork, poultry exports seem to be declining as a result of the agreements. Hence the fears over the planned treaty with New Zealand, which provides for 36,000 tonnes of mutton to be imported into the EU, equivalent to 45% of French production in 2022. France,however, still has a large surplus of grains except for soya. 

‘A bargaining chip’

Beyond the impact on agriculture, "this debate on free-trade agreements must take into account other issues", said Fabry. "We are in a situation where the EU is seeking to secure its supplies and in particular its supplies of strategic minerals. Brazil's lithium, cobalt, graphite and other resource reserves should not be overlooked."

The agreement with Chile should enable strategic minerals to be exported in exchange for agricultural products. Germany strongly supports the agreement with Mercosur, as it sees it as an outlet for its industrial sectors, according to Fabry.

"In virtually all free-trade agreements, agriculture is always used as a bargaining chip in exchange for selling cars or Airbus planes," Véronique Marchesseau, general-secretary of the Confédération Paysanne, told AFP.

Michèle Boudoin, president of the French National Sheep Federation, told AFP that the agreement with New Zealand will "destabilise the lamb market in France".  

"We know that Germany needs to export its cars, that France needs to sell its wheat, and we're told that we need an ally in the Pacific tocounter China and Russia. But if that is the case, then we need help to be able to produce top-of-the-line lamb, for example," she said.

Finally, "there is a question of influence", said Fabry. "These agreements also remain a way for the EU to promote its environmental standards to lead its partners along the path of ecological transition, even if this has to be negotiated," said Fabry. 

Marc Fesneau, the French minister of agriculture, made the same argument. "In most cases, the agreements have been beneficial, including to French agriculture," Fesneau wrote on X last week, adding: "They will be even more so if we ensure that our standards are respected."

Mercosur negotiations suspended? 

As the farmers’ promised “siege” of Paris and other major locations across France continues, the French government has been trying to reassure agricultural workers about Mercosur, even though President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva relaunched negotiations in December. "France is clearly opposed to the signing of the Mercosur treaty," Prime Minister Gabriel Attal acknowledged last week.

The Élysée Palace even said on Monday evening that EU negotiations with the South American bloc had been suspended because of France's opposition to the treaty. The conditions are "not ripe" for concluding the negotiations, said Eric Mamer, spokesman for the European Commission. "However, discussions are ongoing." 

Before being adopted, the agreement would have to be passed unanimously by the European Parliament, then ratified individually by the 27 EU member states.

[hoperaypegasus]

Savannah Speculation

So, Team Wild Fang wasn’t always the representatives of the entire African continent. They originally started off just as the reps from a fictional country called Savannah. Now, the information we are really told about this country sums up to this: it’s small, poor, has very few people, and really, really needs trade partners. 

Out of all the groups we see, they are one of two groups with blended blended countries of origin (Kyoya and Benkei from Japan, Nile hinted at from Egypt, and Demure from a primarily grasslands country), the other being the EU representatives. 

However, unlike Team Excalibur, they only started out being representative of one country, who apparently had so few bladers that they had to turn to opening the selection tournament to make a mark on the global stage.

So what’s the backstory of Savannah? What put the small country in such a tight spot? And where in Africa is it even located? Well, with a little research and a whole ton of hyperfixation, I believe I have a pretty solid theory.

One: Savannah’s Location

We are told that Savannah is a small African country. However, since Africa is the second largest continent, that really does not help us much. All it did was eliminate the other continents.

The first hints towards Savannah’s exact location are its climate. The area around Rock City (the location of the selection tournament), appears to mostly fall into the semi arid type of climate. Therefore, we can cancel out all areas that are purely arid or grassland, leaving us with this search area.

Now that doesn’t look as helpful as it actually is, because our darling dearest Beyblade loves dramatic opening shots. And from that, we know there is a more arid are of the country as well, further narrowing it down to places with both. And Kyoya walks through a more arid area, however, it is primarily rocks, not just sand. Which is a huge clue, as there are four deserts within Africa that have a large amount of rocks in them: The Kalahari, The Karoo, The Chalbi, and The Guban. These narrow our map of possible locations to look like this.

Now, we are looking at exactly five countries that could have given up some of their land to form Savannah. In the south, we have Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. And in the east, we have Kenya and Somalia. I’m going to go ahead and eliminate South Africa off this list as it rejoined the British Empire after the end of Apartheid in 1994, which is really recent, as well as it being a huge and well known country around the world so it would likely remain untouched.

Next to go is Botswana. This is mainly due to how it is hinted that Wild Fang arrived in Japan by boat. Now, I understand that they were likely coming from India, but we also see Rock City. That is Savannah’s capital and if they had an airport, it is likely to be there. But we see no signs of one, so I’m choosing to believe their main mode of transport off the continent was boat and Botswana is landlocked.

Now we’re down to Namibia, Kenya, and Somalia. Now we focus on the other aspects of Savannah we know. That it’s really, really, poor. That eliminates Namibia off the list in my opinion because they are already well know in the diamond industry and any splinter country off them would likely immediately be absorbed into it as well. So we’re down to Kenya and Somalia. 

Kenya does have a larger GDP than Namibia. However, Kenya has a large amount of tourism industry in its borders, which functions (according to what i read) as one of its primary sources of income. A splinter country would not have that infrastructure ready and judging by how all officials we see are in military-esque uniforms, the country is pretty new. It would have to rely on another main source of income that is common in Kenya, agriculture.

Somalia has the lowest GDP of the final two countries and its main source of income is agriculture, specifically livestock. Easier to set up in a young country, and decently easy to integrate into the trade market of, agriculture is my best guess on what Savannah’s main export is.

Now you are realizing that both of those countries seem to fit all the requirements, and you’d be right. So here’s my final purposed location for Savannah: right in-between the two.

The semi arid and arid climates line up perfectly, as does the naval transportation and rocky deserts. Savannah is a newly formed country between Kenya and Somalia.

Two: Savannah’s Origins

We’re into the speculation section now. 

I’ve mentioned Savannah as a newly formed country a few times, and this is mainly due to unlike nearly every other county, it does not have trade partners. It has no economic support from others and is clearly struggling. They do not care about accurately representing their country’s culture (ie the open to all selection tournament). And that could be because they don’t have a single central country culture yet. The country is still setting into its new role as one, and any representative would settle into that role with it, so it does not matter their country of origin (and the rep team probably were granted citizenship as soon as they were selected, meaning they are now at least dual citizens there). 

Another hint that the country is really newly formed is that fact that all officials we see are in military clothing. Now, government officials with military backgrounds aren’t odd, but literally every official we see are in uniform. That’s really common after a fight for independence in particular, as people seen as hero’s are likely to get elected into office. 

So, they recently won a war or battle of some kind for independence and are still coming up with their identity. They are very accepting of outside aid at the current moment (due to financial situations). It is also likely that they flourished during the World Championships and are in much better shape than when we first see them due to Wild Fang’s success.

Purposed Savannahian Stuff

National Animal: Lion (Hence the team name being Wild Fang since we see names being chosen for teams)

National Plant: Acacia Trees (The only large plants there we see)

National Languages: Swahili, Somali, Arabic, and English

Citizen’s Title: Savannahian

Exports: Agriculture (primarily livestock and fish) and Natural Resources (jewels)

Flag: 

[oaresearchpaper]

Molecular Characterization of Aspergillus flavus in Imported Maize in Kenya

Abstract

Maize is a vital staple crop in Kenya, serving as a primary source of food and feed. Contamination of maize (Zea mays) by Aspergillus flavus  and the subsequent production of aflatoxins pose significant threats to food safety and human health. The risk of A. flavus contamination on imported maize at both gazetted and un-gazetted points of entry has not been extensively studied. The primary objective of this study was to examine the genotypic, phenotypic, and aflatoxigenic traits of A. flavus biovars derived from imported maize at Gazetted and Un-gazetted Points of Entries in Kenya. Furthermore, the study sought to establish the phylogenetic relationships among the identified A. flavus strains. A total of 600 imported maize samples were tested for aflatoxin contamination using the Total aflatoxin ELISA test. Out of 600 samples, 4.17% tested positive and were further subjected to morphological and molecular studies.  The morphological analysis revealed the presence of 13 biovars of A. flavus. Micro-morphologically, variations were observed in spore color, size, structure, conidiophore structure, and vesicle shape. The specific primers Calmodulin (CaM), the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of the ribosomal DNA was successfully amplified in 10 out of the 13 biovars that were presumed to be A. flavus, confirming their positive identification as A. flavus. A single band of approximately 700 bp, which corresponds to the expected size of the ITS region in Aspergillus flavus, was observed in 10 out of the 13 biovars. This indicates the presence of A. flavus DNA in those biovars. The amplification of the ITS region provides a specific molecular marker for the identification of A. flavus. These findings highlight the significance of aflQ (ordA) and aflD (nor-1) genes as reliable markers for evaluating the aflatoxigenic potential of A. flavus biovars. Regarding aflatoxigenicity, DV-AM   method was used, and qualitative analysis was conducted. Out of the 13 biovars of A. flavus biovars tested, 23.08% exhibited aflatoxigenicity, while the remaining 10 biovars did not show any aflatoxigenicity. These findings indicate the presence of both aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic strains of A. flavus among the imported maize samples. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that Taxon 31 (AY495945.1 Aspergillus flavus biovar 92016f aflR-aflJ intergenic region partial sequence) and Taxon 32 (NR 111041.1 Aspergillus flavus ATCC 16883 ITS region from TYPE material). This genotypic and phenotypic characterization provides valuable information for understanding the diversity and potential toxigenicity of A. flavus strains on imported maize. This study contributes to the understanding of the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of A. flavus on imported maize in Kenya.

Introduction

Maize plays a central role in the food security and livelihoods of Kenyan populations. It serves as a staple food crop for a significant portion of the population, contributing to both dietary needs and income generation. Moreover, maize is an essential component of livestock feed, supporting the growth of the domestic livestock industry. In sub-Saharan Africa as a whole, maize is ranked third in importance among cereal crops, following rice and wheat (Shiferaw et al., 2011). The cultivation and trade of maize have a considerable impact on regional economies and food systems. Maize (Zea mays) is often contaminated by Aspergillus fungal species during pre- and post-harvest practices, storage, and transportation. Studies by Horn (2007) showed that Aspergillus species are commonly found in the soil, which acts as a source of primary inoculum for infecting developing maize kernels during the growing season. Aspergillus flavus is distributed globally with a high frequency of occurrence in warm climates which favor the growth of the fungus (Cotty et al., 1994).

Understanding the population structure and genetic diversity of A. flavus is crucial for diversification of effective management strategies. Different strains of A. flavus may have varying levels of aflatoxin production and pathogenicity, which can influence the severity of contamination in maize (Abbas et al., 2013). Additionally, certain strains may exhibit resistance or susceptibility to control measures, such as biological control agents or fungicides. Therefore, identifying specific strains or groups within the A. flavus population can aid in the selection of appropriate control strategies to minimize aflatoxin contamination. Moreover, the genetic diversity of A. flavus may also have implications for host-pathogen interactions and disease development. Different strains may exhibit variations in their ability to infect maize kernels, colonize host tissues, and compete with other microorganisms in the maize ecosystem (Atehnkeng et al., 2014). Understanding these interactions can help in the development of resistant maize varieties and cultural practices that can limit fungal growth and subsequent aflatoxin production. The population structure and genetic diversity of A. flavus strains isolated from maize play a significant role in aflatoxin contamination and disease development. The existence of multiple strains within the A. flavus population highlights the need for comprehensive investigations to characterize their phenotypic and genotypic traits. Such studies will provide insights into the factors influencing aflatoxin production, the design of effective control strategies, and the development of resistant maize varieties to minimize the health and economic risks associated with aflatoxin contamination. Aspergillus species, including Aspergillus flavus, are of great concern due to their ability to produce aflatoxins, potent carcinogens and toxins that contaminate various agricultural commodities, including maize. The accurate identification and characterization of Aspergillus species is crucial for assessing their potential to produce aflatoxins and understanding their impact on food safety.

Gene sequencing has emerged as a powerful tool for the accurate identification and classification of Aspergillus species. In recent years, numerous studies have utilized gene sequencing data to characterize Aspergillus biovars from different sources. By comparing the genetic sequences of specific genes, such as the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, researchers can determine the species and genetic diversity within a population. In addition to genetic characterization, a polyphasic approach is commonly employed to identify and characterize Aspergillus biovars. This approach combines morphological and molecular analyses to provide a comprehensive understanding of the biovars. Morphological characteristics, such as colony color, texture, spore color, size and structure, conidiophore structure and vesicle shape are observed and recorded. These characteristics help in differentiating between various Aspergillus species and subgroups. Furthermore, molecular techniques, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing of specific genetic markers, allow for a more precise identification of aflatoxigenic and nonaflatoxigenic A. flavus biovars. These methods target genes associated with aflatoxin production, such as the aflatoxin biosynthesis cluster genes, to determine the potential of a biovar to produce aflatoxins. The combination of gene sequencing and polyphasic approaches provides a comprehensive understanding of the genetic diversity, population structure, and aflatoxinproducing potential of Aspergillus species, particularly A. flavus. This information is essential for risk assessment, development of effective control strategies, and ensuring the safety and quality of imported maize and other agricultural commodities.

This study contributed to the understanding of the population dynamics and potential risks associated with A. flavus in imported maize. Given the prominence of maize in Kenya, research efforts focusing on this crop are crucial. The genotypic and phenotypic characterization of A. flavus on imported maize assumes particular significance in the Kenyan context. A thorough understanding of the genetic diversity and potential for mycotoxin production in A. flavus populations is essential for developing effective control strategies and mitigating the health risks associated with mycotoxin contamination. Gazetted and un-gazetted points of entry play a crucial role in facilitating the importation of maize. However, the risk of A. flavus contamination in imported maize has not been thoroughly investigated, warranting a comprehensive genotypic and phenotypic characterization of this fungus. Understanding the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of A. flavus on imported maize is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it allows for the identification of specific genetic traits and phenotypic features associated with higher aflatoxin production, thus enabling the development of targeted control strategies. Secondly, it provides insights into the diversity of A. flavus biovars present in imported maize and their potential for aflatoxin contamination. This knowledge can contribute to risk assessment and management strategies aimed at preventing or minimizing aflatoxin contamination in the domestic maize supply chain.

Genotypic characterization involves studying the genetic makeup of A. flavus biovars to determine their relatedness, genetic diversity, and potential for toxin production. Several molecular techniques have been used for genotyping A. flavus, including random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) (Abdallah et al., 2018). These methods have provided valuable insights into the genetic diversity and population structure of A. flavus, highlighting the presence of distinct genotypes in different geographic regions (Klich et al., 2015). Phenotypic characterization involves studying the observable traits and behaviors of A. flavus, such as growth patterns, conidiation, and mycotoxin production. Phenotypic characterization is essential for understanding the pathogenicity and virulence of A. flavus strains on imported maize. Researchers have observed variations in colony morphology, growth rate, and sporulation among different A. flavus biovars (Calvo et al., 2016). Furthermore, studies have demonstrated the production of mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxins, by certain A. flavus strains (Chang et al., 2019). Phenotypic characterization provides valuable information for risk assessment and identifying high-risk A. flavus biovars in imported maize. The genotypic and phenotypic characterization of A. flavus on imported maize plays a crucial role in assessing the potential health risks associated with mycotoxin contamination. By combining genotypic and phenotypic data, researchers can identify highly toxigenic A. flavus strains and evaluate their prevalence in imported maize.

This information is essential for implementing targeted control measures, such as crop management strategies, post-harvest interventions, and storage practices, to minimize mycotoxin contamination and ensure food safety (Li et al., 2020). Investigating A. flavus on imported maize specifically at gazetted and ungazetted points of entry in Kenya is crucial. Gazetted points of entry are official border checkpoints designated for the importation of agricultural products, while un-gazetted points of entry refer to informal channels through which goods, including maize, are smuggled into the country. Analyzing both types of entry points can provide a comprehensive understanding of the risks associated with A. flavus contamination in imported maize, as well as the efficacy of control measures implemented at official checkpoints. In this study, we aim to conduct a detailed genotypic and phenotypic characterization of A. flavus on imported maize at both gazetted and un-gazetted points of entry in Kenya. We will analyze the genetic diversity, aflatoxin production capability, and other phenotypic traits of A. flavus biovars obtained from imported maize samples. By doing so, we hope to gain insights into the potential sources and pathways of A. flavus contamination in imported maize and develop targeted strategies to ensure the safety and quality of imported maize in Kenya.

Source :  Molecular Characterization of Aspergillus flavus in Imported Maize in Kenya | InformativeBD

[ainews]

In the 1690s, credit played a crucial role in the northward migration of wildebeests in Africa. This migration, also known as the "Great Migration," is a natural phenomenon that occurs annually when large herds of wildebeests move from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara in Kenya in search of fresh grazing grounds.

One of the main reasons for the northward migration of wildebeests was the availability of credit. During this time, the wildebeest population had increased significantly, leading to competition for limited resources in the Serengeti. The local grasslands, which were the primary source of food for the wildebeests, were becoming overgrazed, making it difficult for the herds to sustain themselves.

As a result, wildebeests began to move north in search of better grazing grounds. However, this migration was not an easy feat, as it required a lot of energy and resources. This is where credit came into play.

Many local communities, such as the Maasai, saw an opportunity in the wildebeest migration and started offering credit to the herds. They would provide the wildebeests with access to fresh grazing grounds, which were usually located in areas they would not have been able to reach on their own. In return, the wildebeests would leave behind their waste, which would fertilize the land and improve its productivity.

This credit system allowed the wildebeests to survive and thrive during their migration, ensuring that they reached their destination in good health. As a result, the wildebeest population continued to grow, and the Great Migration became even more spectacular each year.

Moreover, credit also played a significant role in the sustainability of the local communities. The Maasai, for example, were able to use the money earned from providing credit to the wildebeests to support their families and invest in their livestock.

Credit also encouraged cooperation and trade between different communities. The Maasai, who were traditionally herders, were able to form alliances with other communities, such as the Kikuyu, who were farmers. This resulted in a mutually beneficial relationship, as the Kikuyu provided fresh grazing grounds, while the Maasai provided manure and protection for their crops.

In conclusion, credit was a driving force behind the northward migration of wildebeests in the 1690s. It not only ensured the survival and growth of the wildebeests but also had a positive impact on the local communities and their livelihoods. The credit system created a symbiotic relationship between humans and animals, showcasing the interconnectedness of all living beings in the natural world.

[bigeyeug]

Kenya not yet fully open to Uganda Milk products

By Staff Writer EAC free trade access, not free at all On 14th March 2023, Kenya’s Agriculture and Livestock Development Permanent Secretary Harry Kimtai announced the suspension of the ban on the milk powder imports from Uganda. “Take note that the importation of products under the East African Community (EAC) protocol refers to goods being imported from outside the East African Community,…

[govsea]

University of Nairobi/GOVSEA workshop on Kenyan devolution and livestock trade

The African Drylands Institute for Sustainability in partnership with Roskilde University (Denmark) and with financial support from DANIDA facilitated a one-day stakeholders policy workshop on devolution and its impacts on livestock trade in northern Kenya and other ASALs. The event, held on 29th October 2019 at the Pride Inn Hotel in Nairobi was officially opened by Prof. Rose Nyikal, the Principal College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi. Prof. Peter D. Little provided the opening key note speech.

The meeting took stock of the impacts of recent devolution in Kenya on livestock trade in the above region and across the border with Somalia and Ethiopia. It provided an opportunity for stakeholders to dialogue and better understand the challenges and opportunities of livestock trading in Kenya and the region. The major aspects addressed included: policies and institutions; investments and financing for livestock trade; and research and knowledge gaps for livestock trade. The findings of the workshop will be used to develop policy and research recommendations to improve the performance of the livestock sector.

Panelists debating the impacts of devolution on livestock trade in Kenya

© Tobias Hagmann (2019)

The workshop was attended by county and national level policymakers, livestock traders, researchers, practitioners and development partners. Participants came from Isiolo, Marsabit and Wajir County Governments, State Department of Livestock (national government), Pastoralist Parliamentary Group- Drylands Learning and Capacity Building Initiative (DLCI), Pastoral Development Network of Kenya, University of Nairobi, Roskilde University, Addis Ababa University, University of Hargeisa (Somaliland), Emory University (USA), Technical University of Mombasa, the Danish Institute for International Studies, International Livestock Research Institute, and Bridge Africa.

[chamerionwrites]

The need for reform of the food supply chain is far more broad-ranging than questions of targeted regulatory enforcement. The age of Covid-19 has revealed profound rifts in our culture concerning food production and distribution—rifts that must be bridged by more than purely economic fixes. Policymakers and consumers alike must reflect on how we have come to collectively accept a food system that is largely based on racial and ethnic discrimination. In a country with a legacy of plantation slavery, perhaps this should come as no surprise. But it’s incompatible with the free society that we claim to embrace. During this pandemic, the White House has declared all food system employees—from farm fields to factory floors to grocery aisles to restaurant kitchens—to be essential workers. But if food workers are indeed essential to our national survival, then we owe them a living wage, paid sick leave, and a safe work environment. We can no longer shrug off the meat industry’s high rates of injury, amputation, and illness as the necessary trade-off for cheap hamburgers and chicken nuggets. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration should be allowed full access to packinghouse workers, and the meat inspectors of the USDA, as well as the packinghouse workers themselves, should be granted a louder voice in determining safe line speeds.

Other cultural changes will have to go deeper than policy. Since the beginning of the great consolidation in the 1980s, meatpacking plants across middle America turned to refugees and immigrants to fill these dangerous and low-paid jobs. First, it was refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Then the industry saw an influx of Mexican immigrants, when NAFTA led to a rapid devaluation of the peso that hit hardest in rural communities across the border. The creation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and a series of high-profile raids in the mid-2000s changed hiring yet again in ways that further diversified—and fractured—the meatpacking workforce. Today, meatpacking workers may be K’iche’-speaking Mayas from the central highlands of Guatemala; Salvadorans fleeing urban gangs; Karen people from Myanmar, many of whom grew up in refugee camps along the Thai border; Somalis, most of whom come from war-torn Mogadishu by way of the Dadaab refugee complex in eastern Kenya; and Yazidi from Iraq and Syria, who served as interpreters for the U.S. military.

Consumers will have to understand that the routine endangerment and abuse of these workers can no longer be the hidden cost of cheap meat. Indeed, if we can escape the stranglehold of the Big Six’s ruthless profit motive, then we can ensure fair treatment for these workers and sustainable profits for a larger group of small packers without increases in the price of food. Farmers, ranchers, and residents of rural communities must recognize that such a change will also bring them fairer livestock contracts and higher prices. They must resist the politics of division and recognize that they have common cause with meatpacking workers, even though they may look different, pray different, or speak a different language. An emergency such as the Covid-19 pandemic should make it clearer than ever that our interests and our fates are interwoven. In a just world, that would mean immediate citizenship for any undocumented immigrants who have put their lives at risk as essential workers during this pandemic. President Trump is fond of saying that this crisis is a war—that he is a wartime president and that frontline workers are warriors. Since the founding of the country, we have granted citizenship to any foreign national willing to fight on our side. If you worked at a meatpacking plant or in a farm field, on a grocery loading dock or in a restaurant kitchen, during this once-in-a-century crisis, seeing that our nation was fed, then you should be assured a share of our national future.

--Ted Genoways, “Beyond Big Meat”

[tlbodine]

Monstrous Man-Eaters

Writing about Jaws got me to thinking about the myth and legend of man-eaters, and I wanted to assemble something of a master-post about them. 

Humans are squishy animals, able to defend ourselves against the dangerous wild only because of our intelligence and mastery of technology -- and on a primal level, we’re more than aware of our weakness. Throughout history, when humans move into areas and disrupt the local ecosystems, the former apex predators have caused trouble...and sometimes those predators become especially infamous for killing humans or devastating livestock and evading capture.

Historically, when that’s happened, the solution was to put a bounty on the creature’s head or to hire an especially skilled hunter to track down the beast. And that concept is easy to turn into the stuff of legend, from romantic tales of man vs nature to the whispered stories of werewolves. 

Below the cut, just a few historical accounts and interesting tidbits I could find to whet the appetite. (obviously it’s a big topic, so there are many, many more stories to uncover)

Jim Corbett, Tiger-Hunter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Corbett

A British hunter and naturalist, Corbett's name shows up again and again in man-hunter tales from Colonial India. He's the hunter responsible for slaying a dozen of the best-known man-eating tigers and leopards, including the Champawat Tiger (the world record holder for a tiger killing humans), the Panar Leopard, and the Leopard of Rudaprayag.

Corbett undoubtedly saved lives with his work, but he also uncovered some really important things by examining the animals after their deaths: namely, that in most cases, the man-eaters in question suffered from diseases or wounds that made hunting natural prey difficult.

Despite making a lifetime career of hunting, Corbett was a conservationist and fought hard for education, game preservation, and nature reserves.

The Man-Eaters of Tsavo: https://www.earthtouchnews.com/natural-world/animal-behaviour/new-evidence-in-the-long-standing-mystery-of-the-tsavo-man-eater-lions/ The inspiration for the film The Ghost and the Darkness, in 1898 a pair of lions terrorized a railroad camp in Tsavo, Kenya. Interestingly, like the Champawat Tiger, the Tsavo lions had dental injuries to their canines.

In fact, as I've been researching this, that's a recurring trend that keeps popping up -- and it makes sense. Big cats kill their prey by strangulation, grabbing and squeezing the jugular. Broken teeth would make that difficult or impossible. But different techniques would be needed to kill a human. Essentially, it would seem that big cats seeking their own self-preservation might have traded traditional hunting techniques for methods that relied more on stealth and fearlessness.

The Problem with India’s Man-Eating Tigers: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191120-the-problem-of-indias-man-eating-tigers

Saving tigers from extinction means sometimes putting rural villagers in harm’s way, and it’s a problem that needs to be talked about and considered. 

Custer Wolf: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custer_Wolf

Active in Custer, SD between 1911 and 1920, the Custer Wolf was responsible for $25,000 (equivalent to $300,000 today) in livestock damage before being killed by the hunter H.P. Williams. The wolf was notable for its age and proclivity for killing more than it needed, such as wiping out more than 30 cattle in one week. Local legends suggested the wolf was seeking vengeance for the death of his mate and pups. Interestingly, the wolf never took on another pack, but he was known to travel with a pair of coyotes who straggled behind to eat his scraps.

Wolves of Périgord - https://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/8113372 A reported pack of man-eating wolves who tormented France in 1766, killing 18 people before being killed. It's suspected that the wolves in question may have been wolf-dog hybrids, explaining their unusual boldness.

Beast of Gévaudan - https://allthatsinteresting.com/beast-of-gevaudan Another French tale, the Beast of Gévaudan is a local legend about a huge wolf-like creature (probably a wolf-dog hybrid) responsible for killing somewhere between 80 and 113 people. A hunter killed a large wolf nearby in 1765, but the attacks didn't stop until another body was turned up by a farmer, Jean Chastel, who reportedly killed the monster with a silver bullet (werewolf lore lovers, rejoice). There's an intriguing rumor that Chastel may have bred the creature himself for some or another nefarious purpose, but at this point we may never know.

Another good article about the Beast: https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2016/09/27/solving-the-mystery-of-the-18th-century-killer-beast-of-gevaudan/ )

It’s interesting to note that France in particular is home to quite a lot of wolf stories, like the Beast of Sarlat and Wolf of Soissons. I don’t know what it is about France, specifically, that made it so wolf-attack-prone, but...it sure seems to be a thing.

The Wolf of Ansbach: https://retrieverman.net/2010/09/25/the-wolf-of-ansbach/ A fascinating (and grim) tale: In 1685, Ansbach, Bavaria was under attack by a wolf who preyed on livestock and some unknown number of humans. And somehow along the way, the story developed that the man-eating wolf was in fact a werewolf or reincarnation of a cruel Bürgermeister. 

So when the wolf himself was pursued and killed, the townsfolk gave the body a few modifications: trimming off its muzzle, dressing it in human clothing, a mask, a wig, and a beard, and then paraded through town before being hanged from a gibbet as a ritualistic "fuck you" to the hated local tyrant.

[freiraum-blr]

The Karamoja Cluster of Eastern Africa is an area located between the borders of Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia and dwelled by different pastoralist and agro-pastoralist ethnic groups that had been badly strained by years of violent, inter-ethnic strife, including armed cattle raids, in addition to the effects of a rapidly changing climate. . Now, new agreements are in place to offer grazing opportunities across borders, share knowledge on animal health, and develop a joint drought response. . As a result, cross-border livestock and grain trade has been restored, local communities are more empowered in government planning and have developed more resilience to climate change, and the health of cattle and other livestock has improved.

https://www.instagram.com

[sciencenewsforstudents]

In a massive survey of rivers across 72 countries, researchers found antibiotics at 66 percent of 711 sites sampled. Many of the most drug-polluted waterways were in Asia and Africa, where there hadn’t been much data until now.

Environmental pollution from antibiotics is one driver of microbial drug resistance, which threatens public health. People should be as concerned about resistance evolving abroad as they are about resistance brewing in their own backyards, says William Gaze, a microbial ecologist at the University of Exeter Medical School in England who was not involved with the research. Even if wealthy countries curb antibiotic pollution, drug-resistant microbes can hitch a ride across the globe with traveling people, migrating birds or traded food and livestock, he says. “It’s a global problem, and we need global solutions.”

About a third of the sites surveyed over the last year contained no detectable levels of antibiotics. But 66 percent, or 470 of the sites, tested positive for at least one of 14 types of antibiotics. And almost 16 percent, or 111 sites, contained concentrations considered unsafe, based on safety levels estimated by AMR Industry Alliance, a global biotech and pharmaceutical coalition. The alliance set its safety thresholds based on levels that wouldn’t kill algae in the environment or promote resistance by killing susceptible bacteria.

“I don’t think I was expecting the degree of concentrations that we saw. That was quite eye-opening,” says environmental chemist Alistair Boxall of the University of York in England, who conducted the survey with University of York colleague John Wilkinson. The two presented their results on May 27 and May 28 in Helsinki at a meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

The scale of the study is unprecedented, Boxall says. Previously, most surveys had focused on North America, Europe and China. So Boxall and Wilkinson sent water collection kits to colleagues all over the world and then tested samples from a total of 165 rivers for 61 drugs, including the 14 antibiotics.

Samples continue to roll in and the researchers plan to release more data in the future. “Ultimately, it would be nice if we could get samples from every country of the world,” Boxall says.

Many sites deemed to have unsafe antibiotic levels were contaminated with more than one of these drugs. The most commonly found antibiotic was trimethoprim, used to treat urinary tract infections, which showed up at 43 percent of the sampled sites. Other commonly occurring antibiotics were sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin and metronidazole. Some of the antibiotics the researchers looked for — including oxytetracycline, amoxicillin and cloxacillin — were not detected at any site.

Samples from Bangladesh’s Kirtankhola River, near the south-central city of Barisal, contained the highest antibiotic concentrations of any surveyed site. The level of metronidazole approached 40,000 nanograms per liter, or about 300 times the safe level. The commonly prescribed drug ciprofloxacin exceeded safe levels by a factor of eight.

High antibiotic concentrations were also found in river samples near the cities of Accra, Ghana; Nairobi, Kenya; Lahore, Pakistan; Lagos, Nigeria; and Nablus, Israel. The most contaminated sites in Europe were in an urban tributary of the Danube in Austria. And the most polluted U.S. river was found in North Liberty, Iowa, near many animal farms.

To figure out how antibiotics were getting into waterways, the researchers did some sleuthing. Google Street View showed that some contaminated sites are near pharmaceutical plants, which could be releasing discharge into the waterways, the researchers say. Photos from several highly polluted sites in Africa and Asia also showed trash heaped along riverbanks as well as sewage-carrying trucks nearby, Boxall says.

River features such as the water’s depth, how fast it flows and whether a sampling site is located downriver from a city or hospital would also have an impact on drug concentrations, Boxall says.

Boxall, Wilkinson and colleagues plan to test how antibiotics at the levels measured might affect algae and other organisms in the environment. The researchers hope their work leads policy makers worldwide to take action toward curbing antibiotic pollution.

[unchannelorg]

Livestock Trade Matters Lead Researcher

https://unchannel.org/jobs/livestock-trade-matters-lead-researcher-in-nairobi-kenya?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[kimzebraadventuressafaris]

The Maasai, a semi-nomadic, pastoral indigenous tribe whose ancestral territory stretches across southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. Since many of their communities abut or lie within the bounds of popular game preserves—including Maasai Mara, Ngorongoro, —many of the camps and lodges we use for our safaris employ them as guides and staffers. It’s also common for safari guests to visit their villages or see them out in the savannah: men herding livestock; women carrying water or firewood.

But the Maasai have a rich and fascinating culture that long predates the existence of safari travel, and still exists alongside it. Here are a few especially interesting aspects of that culture.

Maasai culture is centred around the belief that God (called Engai, or Enkai, in the tribe’s Maa language) created cattle especially for them, and they are the custodians of all the world’s cattle. For Maasai, life revolves around amassing and grazing large herds of cows (and to a lesser extent, goats). As well as being the tribe’s primary income source (livestock are traded for other products or cash), cows also play an important role in Maasai communal life. Families and clans establish alliances through the exchange of cattle; and consuming the meat and milk of cows is considered a sacred act, one that binds them to their creator.

For hundreds of years—and long before the official creation of game parks as a means to environmental conservation—the Maasai moved and grazed their herds throughout the Rift Valley without causing damage to the land or its resident wildlife. Read More at www.kim.tours

[sounmashnews]

[ad_1] CNN  —  A grueling two-year drought in Kenya has worn out 2% of the world’s rarest zebra species and elevated elephant deaths as nicely, because the local weather disaster takes its toll on the east African nation’s wildlife. Animal carcasses rotting on the bottom – together with giraffes and livestock – have turn out to be a typical sight in northern Kenya, the place unprecedented dry spells are chipping away at already depleted meals and water assets. The Grevy Zebra, the world’s rarest of the zebra species, has been the worst hit species by the drought. Founder and Executive Director of the Grevy’s Zebra Trust, Belinda Low Mackey, advised CNN that the species’ mortality fee would solely rise if no important rain falls on the area. “If the approaching rainy season fails, Grevy’s zebra face a very serious threat of starvation,” she stated. “Since June, we have lost 58 Grevy’s zebra and mortality cases are rising as the drought intensifies.” Even probably the most drought-resistant animals are impacted. One is the camel, which is thought to outlive lengthy periods without water. “Camels are a valuable resource for many people in this region,” Suze van Meegen, an Emergency Response Manager for the Norwegian Refugee Council in East Africa, advised CNN. “The deserts of Kenya … are now littered with their carcasses.” Kenya is on the point of its fifth failed wet season and its metrological division forecasts “drier-than-average conditions” for the remainder of the yr. Conservationists are fearful that many extra endangered species will die. “If the next rains fail … we could expect to see a substantial spike in elephant mortality,” says Frank Pope, who heads Kenya-based conservation charity Save the Elephants. “We are seeing herds splintered into the smallest units … as they try to eke out a living,” he stated. “Calves are being abandoned, and elderly elephants are dying. Without rain, others will soon follow.” As the dry spell persists, different endangered wildlife is quick going extinct. The drought can be worsening poaching for bushmeat, which has risen amongst pastoralist communities within the north because the drought impacts different sources of earnings. In some areas, Grevy’s zebras are being poached in grazing reserves. “The drought has led to increased poaching of Grevy’s zebra due to large numbers of livestock converging on grazing reserves,” Mackey stated. “This has led to inter-ethnic conflict (sometimes animals get caught in crossfire) and poaching, as herders resort to living off wildlife.” Human-wildlife battle has additionally fueled the killing of dozens of elephants which can be pressured to return in shut contact with people as they chase shrinking sources of meals and water, stated Pope of Save the Elephants. “Last year, we lost half as many elephants to conflict with people as we did to poaching at the height of the ivory crisis 10 years ago,” he tells CNN. Nearly 400 elephants have been misplaced to poaching 10 years in the past, the best in Kenya since 2005, in accordance with a 2012 report by the nation’s wildlife service. While government action against ivory trade has quelled ivory poaching in Kenya, poaching for bushmeat has persisted as a result of drought and hovering meals costs. Since October 2020, 4 consecutive wet seasons have failed in elements of Kenya and the Greater Horn of Africa. The UN says that is area’s worst drought in 40 years. More than 4 million Kenyans are “food insecure” as a result of drought and over 3 million can’t get sufficient water to drink.

The Grevy’s Zebra Trust says it's serving to endangered species survive the drought by means of supplementary feeding. “We have one dedicated feeding team in each of the three national reserves (Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba). On average we are using 1,500 bales (of supplementary hay) per week,” Mackey stated, including that different species equivalent to oryx and buffalo have been additionally benefiting. However, interventions for elephants at a scale that would make an considerable distinction are tough, says Pope. “Providing new water sources can be counter-productive, for instance, causing local desertification,” he stated. “Save the Elephants concentrates on helping local people protect themselves from conflict (with stray elephants) and helps respond to incidents when conflict does occur.” Pope additionally worries that when the rains lastly come, there is likely to be much less grass on account of overgrazing by livestock. “A bigger concern is the overgrazing that is starting to turn the fragile landscape to desert. When the rains do come there will be less grass, even as the pressure on the landscape increases.” [ad_2] Source link

[careerkenyan]

Concern Worldwide Officer, Livelihoods Job

Officer, Livelihoods Job, Latest NGO Jobs In Kenya 2022, Job Title: Officer, Livelihoods Reports to: Technically: Consortium Programme Manager Administratively: County Programme Manager Direct Reports: Field Assistant Closely Work with: Other Concern program team and relevant county departments Job Location: Lodwar, Turkana (Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Kenya at the time of application – National Position) Contract Details: Fixed Term, 10 (Ten) Months Job Summary: He/she will be responsible for quality programme delivery at the Sub County level through technical leadership in food security, livelihoods and community engagement in various sub Counties of Marsabit County in close consultation with manager livelihoods. He/she will be responsible for timely implementation of program activities guided by the annual work plan and informed by program technical approaches in close collaboration with ward field assistants, sub county government officials and community leaders/members in implementation of joint plans. Main Duties and Responsibilities - Provide technical support to the ward development assistants, local partners and Sub-county government line officers in charge of key sectors including department of agriculture livestock and fisheries, Water environment and Natural resources, trade, industry and enterprise development amongst others to establish a collaborative working environment; implement high impact and evidence informed interventions. - Lead in the day to day livelihoods program implementation and prudent utilization of resources towards meeting the program mandate in line with the approved work plan, organization policies, and standard operating procedures. - Foster linkages with partners and other stakeholders in public and private sector in the Sub-county to enhance synergy, collaboration and learning. - Represent Concern Worldwide at sub-county level livelihoods related technical and coordination forums in: Natural Resources Management, livestock sector forums, agriculture sector forums, WESCOORD, contingency planning and early warning systems, social protection systems and cash transfer programming, and others as will be specified by the line manager. - Play an active role in generation of new knowledge through documentation of informal interactions and feedback sessions with communities and through participating/supporting surveys and other assessments; and documenting lessons learnt and success stories. - Contribute to the development of the annual work plan and quarterly costed work plan and support in tracking implementation and reporting. - Support in the implementation of Concern integrated approaches in education, livelihoods, health and nutrition at community level liaising closely with Technical Managers Health & Nutrition, Livelihoods, and Education and government service providers to ensure organized community groups have adequate technical support to develop and implement their action plans that address barriers to basic service delivery. - Conduct regular field visits to monitor to monitor progress, receive community feedback, check on the quality and impact of activities approved in the annual program proposal, and quarterly costed work plans. Others - Adhere to and promote the standards outlined in the Concern Code of Conduct and associated policies to their team, beneficiaries, and be committed to providing a safe working environment. - Participating and contributing towards Concern’s emergency response, as and when necessary. - Take all possible measures to meet Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS). - Any other duties as assigned by the Line Manager. Person Specification Minimum Education, Qualifications & Experience Required: - A Bachelor’s Degree in Community Development, Livestock Production, Crop Production, Social Sciences or any other relevant field - At least three (3) years’ experience in a similar role - Must have a working knowledge of Project Cycle Management, Climate Smart Agriculture, Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction, Animal health, Water supply systems, Natural Resource Management, Pastoral Field Schools, Making Markets work for the Poor and Value Chains Development. - Demonstrated experience in implementing livelihoods programs in ASAL areas. - Fluency in spoken and written language in English and Swahili - Strong written and oral communication skills - Computer literate with good MS Office skills Preference will be given to candidates who have: - Good computing and report writing skills - Be able to work independently, as well as in a team - Strong leadership and management skills - High integrity and demonstrated ability to follow standards and policies - Ability to work in a systematic and organized manner and to tight deadlines - Positive attitude and willingness to learn Competencies required: - Trustworthy, honest and reliable - Willing to challenge or question others constructively when appropriate - Ready to accept changes as new situations arise Safeguarding at Concern: Code of Conduct and its Associated Policies Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a consultancy opportunity with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their consultancy contract. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to do consultancy work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, being hired as a consultant with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking. Concern’ is the trading name of ‘Concern Worldwide’, a company limited by guarantee, registered number 39647; registered charity number CHY 5745, registered in Ireland, registered address is 52-55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Follow Concern online: www.concern.net How to apply Interested candidates, who meet the above requirements, should send a detailed CV with three referees and Cover Letter Only to nairobi.hr@concern.net with the subject of the email as “Officer, Livelihoods – Turkana ’’ on or before Wednesday 10th August 2022 “. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview. Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunity employer and does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (for application, written test, interview, training, medical examination etc.) nor act through recruitment agents. This is applicable for all opportunities including staff and interns. Read the full article

[govsea]

Hybrid rules in livestock value chains in East Africa

Livestock trading in the Garissa corridor, which connects southern Somalia with the Kenyan capital Nairobi, is a defining part of the economy in northeastern Kenya. Based on extensive doctoral fieldwork, this paper tacks stock of livestock traders’ everyday trading practices. Three overlapping value chains characterize the Garissa corridor along which cattle, sheep and goats are marketed and transported; a transnational value chain, a local value chain and an export value chain. The ‘practical norms’ that govern these value chains differ considerably. As Somali livestock moves towards the Kenyan highlands, animals are gradually being formalized, becoming subject to government recording, disease surveillance and taxation. This highlights not only a fusing of informal and informal rules and economies, but points towards both the disadvantage and advantage of state weakness, which gives traders elbow room to negotiate the terms of trading.

This working paper is written by Philemon O. Ng’asike (University of Nairobi) and is an output of the research program ‘Governing Economic Hubs and Flows in Somali East Africa (GOVSEA https://www.diis.dk/node/4195) 

Philemon O. Ng’asike (2019), Fusing formal and informal trading: emerging practices in the livestock value chains between Kenya and Somalia, DIIS Working Paper 2019:12, Copenhagen DIIS.