Description
In response to drought, hunger, intertribal conflicts, and the unsustainable livelihood challenges facing the poor rural community in Turkana county , the study , compelled action to help redress this deplorable situation. The study utilized the Community Project Cycle (CPC) approach. The CPC targeted the following key objectives, to scrutinize the potential of the targeted community in terms of local resources, to help develop the appropriate interventions for aloe farming, reviewing the initiatives undertaken in promotion of aloe subsector within the project area, Aloe product Market chain within ,. Aloe industry in Turkana as a social enterprise. The study showed widespread aloe species with the varied distribution. The area has the commercial Aloe Turkanensis species which has been exploited for traditional medicine and commercial reasons. There were two value addition processes evident in the area. The first one was the utilization of aloe sap in processing of cosmetic products by women groups who had received support from various organizations. This was deemed to be sustainable as aloe sap from a few leaves would process a lot of products. The other aloe value addition process evidenced during the study was the boiling of aloe sap to make aloe gum which was sold in nearby markets for exports. This method was deemed unsustainable. The study noted various interventions towards aloe promotion. Regardless of this there is no significant output and impact to positively change the livelihoods of the people. This study therefore recommended that a deliberate effort be made to set up an aloe factory, Build the capacity of the community by their inclusion in the factory and training them to enhance aloe production, Assist the community to build technologies for aloe value addition and improve market penetration for the aloe –based products
Key Words
Aloe Turkanesnsis, sustainable production, Turkama county, Alternative enterprise
