24/10/2025
Adapting to Thrive: Embracing Crops and Animals That Suit Our Environment.
As climate change continues to reshape our ecosystems, communities in semi-arid regions are increasingly facing the harsh realities of prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and declining agricultural yields. While efforts to plant trees and mitigate climate change remain essential, it is equally important to adjust our approach — to embrace crops, trees, and animals that are naturally suited to our environment. Adaptation is not a sign of defeat, but rather a mark of resilience and wisdom.
A striking example can be observed along the stretch from Kambu through Misuuni to Mwakila, where clusters of spiky cactus plants dominate the landscape. For years, local residents have used these hardy plants mainly for fencing, as their spikes provide effective barriers against destructive wild animals such as elephants. Yet, beyond their use as protective hedges lies an untapped treasure with great economic and environmental potential.
Through the rearing of the cochineal insect, which feeds exclusively on cactus, communities can produce cochineal carmine — a high-quality natural red dye widely used in foods, cosmetics, and textiles across the globe. Current legitimate pricing for food-grade cochineal dye runs roughly US $300-700 per kilogram (≈ US $25-60 per 100 g) depending on quality and market.
By highlighting this, even a modest harvest from a few cactus plants could yield significant income for rural households.
Moreover, once the spikes are removed, the cactus pads can be safely fed to livestock, providing nutritious feed during the dry season. The plant’s fleshy parts can also be crushed and used in biogas digesters to produce clean, renewable energy for households. These uses clearly demonstrate that no crop or tree is truly useless — every plant has potential value if we learn how to utilize it wisely.
Adaptation, however, extends beyond crops and trees. It is time to reconsider the types of animals we rear in these dry regions. For instance, camels, which are often associated with Somali and northern Kenyan communities, are remarkably well-adapted to arid and semi-arid climates. They require minimal water, withstand extreme heat, and thrive on drought-tolerant plants such as Euphorbia, locally known as Ndau. Encouraging camel rearing in semi-arid areas like lower eastern Kenya could significantly enhance household resilience and food security.
The message is clear: as much as we plant trees and work to slow the pace of climate change, we must also adapt our farming and livestock practices to the conditions around us. It is time to move beyond outdated traditions and mental limitations and embrace new ways of doing things. The spiky cactus, the tough Euphorbia, and the resilient camel each remind us that the path to sustainability lies not in resisting nature, but in working in harmony with it.
