Passports and Identity Cards for Livestock in Eastern Africa

Among other threats to human security in the Greater Horn of Africa, the problem of cattle rustling continues to cause immense socio-economic challenges to pastoralist communities living in the borderlands of Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Published on 28 April 2009 in ISS Today

Among other threats to human security in the Greater Horn of Africa, the problem of cattle rustling continues to cause immense socio-economic challenges to pastoralist communities living in the borderlands of Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. While several initiatives have so far been undertaken to address the problem, it still continues unabated. One such initiative that seems to offer real change, if it is correctly implemented, is Livestock Identification and Traceability (LITS) System.

Herding of livestock or pastoralism in the borderlands of the Greater Horn of Africa is dependent on a sparse natural resource base in ecologically marginal areas. Over time, the pastoralists have developed and adopted various coping mechanisms with regard to the climatic uncertainties of relentless harsh weather, scarce rainfall, poor soils etc. However, due to many historical, political, economic and natural setbacks, dependence on livestock husbandry in the borderlands face numerous challenges. As a result and in their struggle to secure their livelihoods, pastoralist communities are forced to adapt practices that are implicitly associated with or inadvertently contribute to insecurity in the region.

One of the key negative aspects of insecurity has been the problem of livestock theft or cattle rustling. This is a major challenge mainly in the pastoralist zones and to a lesser extent in non-pastoralist areas as well. Indeed, the cattle rustling phenomenon poses indisputable threats to peace and socio- economic well-being of the livestock dependent communities. This is mainly because it has evolved and transformed to embody violent confrontation with devastating impacts on humans and livestock. The attendant violence constitutes a clear threat to human security not only in the vast pastoralist border lands of the Greater Horn but also at national, regional and international sphere.

Livestock Identification and Traceability (LITS) is increasingly gaining importance in the world. In the borderlands of the Greater Horn of Africa it is a potential tool in preventing and mitigating the rampant livestock theft. Other drivers for LITS in the region include:

Livestock identification means the placement of a unique individual identifier or group identifier (epidemiological unit) on or into an animal for the purpose of property identification. On the other hand, Livestock Traceability means a system for tracking or identifying livestock or their products along the whole supply chain from production through marketing and or processing for the consumer market.

The viability of any LITS is its ability to uniquely identify specific animals. Traditional LITS include approaches such as branding using hot irons. Conventional approaches are more advanced and include electronic identification based systems, biometric and DNA methods.

Among the many reasons why the current LITS are inadequate could be attributed to the existing livestock management practices that are characterized by inconsistent and poor policies, poor organization and regulation of livestock marketing, un-regulated stock movements, weak or inadequate legislation, poor or lack of proper documentation, inadequate resource allocation and socio-cultural aspects.

The pre-requisites for any successful LITS include; the mark being visual to serve as deterrent; registration with a competent authority; permanency; temper proof; safe; appropriate; and affordable. In addition, the LITS must be:

Experience has shown that livestock Identification and Traceability in the pastoralist areas is very complex. This is because of the existing different geo-political inclinations, geography, diversity of cultures, value and meaning attached to livestock etc. In addition, the technologies in use are dynamic and evolve rapidly in concert with other technological development worldwide.

The Government (Veterinary departments in particular) should define the roles of different stakeholders and players in the development of operational guidelines and appropriate legislation. The Executive, Legislature and the Judicially should support, ratify and implement the Regional Protocol on the Prevention, Combating and Eradication of Cattle Rustling as it spells out some of the provision for livestock identification. The different arms of national governments need to also work together and prioritize the implementation of LITS; elaborate the necessary legal frameworks and allocate the necessary resources.

Efforts must be put to balance the local or national dictates with the prevailing international needs for traceability. The governments in the region need to harmonize LITS, legal frameworks as well as livestock marketing operations and movement control. Governments, parliamentarians and advocacy Civil Society groups, should educate and sensitize communities on the importance of implementing LITS. Finally, there is need for unreserved political will to support LITS. A first step is the establishment of a Regional LITS Technical Advisory Committee, which is a priority in this process.

In conclusion, it is important to note that Livestock Identification alone is not enough to curb cattle theft irrespective of how sophisticated or tamper-proof the technique in use may be. Furthermore, establishment and operationalization of Livestock Identification and Traceability Systems are expensive undertakings and the livestock industry on its own without government support will not afford to meet these costs. Governments can meet the cost of system development, piloting or trial operations and then pass on to the industry. In any case, the primary responsibility of ensuring security and health (human and livestock) lies with government and the provisions thereof should largely be ‘public goods.’

Muiruri John Kimani, Senior Researcher, Pastoralist Security Programme, ISS Nairobi