Livestock keepers in Mwingi area of Kitui County have been urged to embrace modern technology to improve their livestock production and income.
The farmers were also advised to ensure that their livestock remained healthy by giving them vaccination against threatening diseases.
Speaking to KNA on Thursday in his office at Mwingi town, Mwingi sub-county Veterinary Officer (SCVO), Martha Kata cautioned the farmers to guard their flocks against diseases such as Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia commonly found in goats.
“Mostly the disease affects goats causing inflammation of the lungs and accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity which interferes with effective respiration and causes the goat to die over lack of oxygen,” Kata added.
She said the disease was preventable through vaccination which is done once per year.
The SCVO noted that the Kitui county government had introduced vaccination of livestock in every constituency to prevent disease infections.
“We carry out the vaccination at the beginning of every year on the livestock reared in this region which include cows, goats and donkeys,’’ he said.
Kata further noted that due to inadequate rain, farmers had found it difficult to feed their livestock.
“The county government in collaboration with the National Drought Management Board has introduced pasture that is given to farmers to plant for their livestock to feed on when there is no rain. This is a way of curbing drought since many farmers rely on rain to feed their livestock.” Kata observed.
Governor Charity Ngilu launched Artificial Insemination project on January 16, 2019 in a bid to help the farmers in reproduction of livestock.
It is done by use of synchronization of estrus in cattle to produce both pure and cross breed dairy animals from the local dairy herd.
The SCVO said that some of the challenges that they face are lack of transport to reach farmers to offer extension services and educate them on how to prevent diseases.
“We also encounter inadequate vaccines to serve all the livestock across the region.
By Margaret Kimathi
