Kirinyaga County Government has launched a sensitization campaign for livestock farmers to prevent, detect, and manage Foot and Mouth and Lumpy Skin diseases.
County Governor Anne Waiguru says the initiative is part of ongoing dairy sector development program which seek to increase milk production and earn farmers more money. The governor said the diseases poses threat to the dairy sector and therefore the need for famers to be trained on prevention, detection and proper management of livestock.
“We have been working on concerted effort including rolling out subsidized Artificial Insemination (AI) services and offering subsidized animal feeds to the farmers so as to improve on breeds and increase milk production,” Waiguru said. Expert veterinarians and agricultural extension officers are leading training sessions on various ailments, including Anthrax, Rift Valley Fever, Rabies, and Black Quarter, to provide practical advice to farmers.
Livestock farmers from various parks of Kirinyaga undergoing training and sensitization organized by county government department of health.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock, Veterinary and Fisheries Dr. John Gachara said the training comes in the wake of an outbreak of the two diseases which has since been contained. “Farmers report cases of Lumpy Skin Disease and Foot and Mouth disease, primarily due to inadequate knowledge on prevention and detection,” he said.
Dr. Gachara said private practitioners, government veterinary officers and officials from dairy cooperatives have also been trained so as to help them respond and take swift action on diseases once they break out.
“The County Government, together with stakeholders in dairy farming has been able to develop a livestock farmer education programme that is being conducted across all the wards by our extension officers,” added Dr. Gachara. Meanwhile, the CECM said the county is a transit point for livestock coming from Eastern and North Eastern part of the country and therefore is prone to diseases like foot and mouth.
Livestock farmers have praised the initiative saying it will help them manage their livestock much better so as to prevent them from acquiring diseases.
“I have learned a lot about how to spot early signs of livestock disease and the steps to take if my animals have the symptoms. This is exactly what we needed considering that I have previously spent a lot of money treating diseases while I could have spent just a Ksh100 when the county veterinary officers were doing mass vaccination,” said Joseph Munyi, a dairy farmer.
Lastly, Muriuki Magondu, another livestock farmer, said he is now better equipped with knowledge on how to deal with the diseases and how to manage his herd well.