Moses O. Olang
Tana and Athi River Development Authority
P.O. Box 47309, Nairobi, Kenya
Theuri Njoka
Lecturer, University of Nairobi
Range Management Division
P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya
Introduction
Cooperative ranching societies
Implication of subdivision
Possible solution
Abstract
A number of ranches were set up in marginal areas during colonial days, and they were the main source of steers for the beef market. Most of these ranches were bought by local people after forming cooperative societies. These ranches are being subdivided by the society members for dry land farming.
This may lead to a drop in beef production and without proper land-use planning, may lead to soil erosion. Already an area east of Lake Naivasha is experiencing wind erosion during low rainfall seasons. Once the land-use has changed from ranching to crop production, the people in range management should move out of the area and concentrate in semiarid areas where livestock production should be intensified.
The British colonial settlers established excellent commercial ranches, mainly in Machakos, Nakuru and Laikipia districts. After independence most of the white settlers offered their ranches for sale to Africans. The sale prices for those ranches were so high that Africans could not raise the required money at that time. Loans were made available at 80% of the sale price.
The local people decided to form cooperative societies whereby each member was to raise Shs. 2,000/= to buy one share. Some members still could not raise the Shs. 2,000/= and had to incorporate other members. Thus one share was bought by a number of people but only one of them had his name registered. The others were called shadow members. For some time the high quality standard of livestock was maintained and a number of the ranches supplied the local farmers with improved bulls. The Kenya Meat Commission also continued to get high grade steers for slaughter.
The current study was carried out to determine the effect of subdivision to livestock development and ecology of the range.
A cooperative ranching society is where members own a ranch through the purchase of shares. A general meeting is held once to elect a committee of ten who run the ranch on behalf of the members. A general manager, who is supposed to know livestock husbandry, is recruited by the committee.
When shareholders bought the ranches most of them thought that the benefits coming from the ranch would be immediate and substantial. Others became members just to see the colonialists go, while still others thought they would graze their own livestock side by side with the society ones.
Most of the societies started experiencing problems brought by members. Committee members were the worst. Some of them took money from non-members then allowed them to graze their cattle on the society's land, while other members brought their relatives to live in the ranch as squatters. Some of the white settlers promised their workers part of the ranch when it was sold. This made employees become squatters in some ranches. A case in point is Kiu Co-operative Ranch where workers occupied 4000 acres since 1971 when the ranch was sold. The biggest problem to the societies, especially those in Machakos District, came from shadow members. These members were not allowed to participate in annual general meetings. Whenever a dividend was declared, it was paid only to registered members. The shadow members became a force which was soon recognised by the Government. They were later allowed to become members by increasing their share contribution.
Cooperative Ranches in Machakos District
By 1964 local people in Machakos had formed 55 cooperative societies. Some of the ranch societies in the district are listed in Table 1. The problem with shadow members was experienced in Machakos only. Some committee members were illiterate, so instead of guiding the general member, they retarded his development plans. Some of the managers were not fit for the posts as their employment was influenced by some committee members. Because of all these problems it became necessary to subdivide the ranches.
Table 1. Cooperative ranching societies in Machakos District.
|
Name |
Size (acres) |
Date began |
Original member |
Land area per member in acres |
|
Katelembo |
11,954 |
1972 |
3446 |
3.5 |
|
Kiu |
11,330 |
1971 |
994 |
11.4 |
|
Nguu |
34,000 |
1967 |
1600 |
21.3 |
|
Konza |
35,658 |
1964 |
1604 |
22.2 |
|
Kima |
9,108 |
1973 |
1604 |
5.7 |
|
Lukenya |
60,000 |
1963 |
743 |
80.8 |
|
Drumvalle |
11,330 |
1964 |
1462 |
7.7 |
|
Mountain View |
1 |
1967 |
1462 |
1 |
|
Koma-Rock |
36,190 |
1963 |
279 |
129.7 |
|
Katheka-Kai |
16,945 |
1971 |
188 |
90.1 |
|
Kalembwani |
5,085 |
|
854 |
|
|
Aimi Ma Kilungu |
35,425 |
|
1422 |
24.9 |
Table 2 shows the members' plot sizes after subdivision. Officers in range management have always tried to stop the subdivision of the ranches because they anticipate land degradation and reduced livestock numbers in the whole country.
Table 2. Effects of subdivision on livestock production under cooperative management.
|
Ranch |
Acreage |
Members |
1986 |
|
|
Konza |
35,658 |
3,546 |
841 |
|
|
Katelembo |
11,954 |
932 |
467 |
|
|
Kiu |
11,330 |
1,407 |
955 |
|
|
Katheka-Kai |
||||
|
|
"B" |
16,945 |
1,124 |
1,061 |
|
|
"A" |
|
246 |
|
|
Nguu |
34,000 |
3,309 |
2,096 |
|
|
Lukenya |
60,000 |
4,042 |
3,460 |
|
|
Koma Rock |
36,190 |
2,595 |
197 |
|
The effect of subdivision is already being felt in the country.
Kenya Meat Commission
During colonial days KMC made arrangements with the ranchers on the sale of finished steers for slaughter. Ranchers finished their steers with a market already assured while KMC officials also made all their purchases by telephone. KMC was thus able to operate at its full capacity.
As these ranches changed hands and subdivision started, sale by telephone came to an end and KMC is almost closing its two factories in Mombasa and Athi River near Nairobi because of lack of animals to slaughter.
Land Use Changes
Ranches which are already subdivided are being turned to crop production on subsistence level. Wildlife from Nairobi National Park and Hopecraft Game Ranch graze in these ranches during dry season. There will be continued crop damage by wildlife.
Land Degradation
An area east of Lake Naivasha called Mai Mahiu which had been subdivided much earlier and whose members are growing maize and beans is being degraded through erosion. Members harvest crops successfully once in five years. Wind erosion becomes serious when rains fail to come after land has been prepared.
Shortage of Steers for Slaughter
Most of the trained range management officers look upon pastoral areas (especially those in ecological zones V and VI) as being difficult areas. No proper cattle sales are organised and instead there is permanent quarantine over cattle movement because of contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia. Thus there are no plans for improvement regarding such problems.
Improved Livestock Feed
Most of the vast beef production areas in Kenya fall under ecological zones V and VI, where rainfall is erratic and the larger part of the year is dry. Livestock spend most of their time feeding on dry and protein-deficient forage. Some research should be carried out to find either deep-rooted legumes or annuals which will grow within a short time and dry up with the protein intact. Land preparation should be limited to scratching the top soil just to stop water from carrying the seeds away.
