Use of Camels for Transportation

Abstract

West Pokot is a marginalized region where natural resources are under- utilized due to lack of technologies, market access and means of transportation. The Cabesi Project is based on ICIPE's beekeeping and wild silk farming technologies linked with camels for transportation. The Project provides the complete infrastructure from enhanced modern beekeeping methods and technologies of wild silk farming to processing of final products on site and connection with buyers, and camel training, all to meet the two main goals: to support rural communities of West Pokot to enhance their sources of income and by capacity building; to support arid land management (and fight soil erosion) through assistance of pollination and pollinators and support of camel husbandry. As the Project progresses, other development problems on which ICIPE conducts research and development, Including malaria, ticks, tsetse and crop pests will be addressed. Three collection centres for honey and silk cocoons will be constructed initially, at Kirenget, Cherangan and Lomut. Processing of these products will be done in a marketplace at Chepareria, after which the value-added products will be offered for sale directly to traders. Camels will be used to transport the honey and silk from far-away sites. New employment wi ll be created for farmers, cattle owners, carpenters, collection centre operators, transporters and silk and honey processors.