This research activity is conducted in food insecure pastoral areas of Borana and Guji with the major aim of improving performances of camels through disease control. Thus, improved milk production contributes to food security and income generation of the households vulnerable to draught shock and food insecurity. Promotion of livestock diversification (camels with other stocks) in the pastoral areas has both economic and ecological advantages. Camels resist the effects of dry periods; they supply the households with milk and reduce vulnerability to food insecurity. Additionally, camels feed on higher strata of the plants and there is less competition with other ruminants. Thus, the rangeland resources will be utilized properly and pressure on the rangeland resources will be minimized. Thus, as competition on the rangeland resources reduces, camels have ecological advantage as part of livestock diversification in Borana areas where camel production is a new business.
In general, camels have vital contribution to food security particularly to the marginalized communities in the dry zones of the country. Nevertheless, research agenda and promotion programs as well as regular vaccination and disease control strategies are almost nil. Thus, the depth of our knowledge on the epidemiology of camel diseases and other constraints that may affect their potential performances is very limited. Therefore, this research will fill the knowledge gaps in this regards and provide baseline data which can be useful for the development of disease control strategy. Thus, contributes to food security through improve in milk production and general herd productivity.
