Kwale County government has launched a gala goat distribution exercise to help local livestock keepers boost the production of milk, meat and improve their livelihoods.
The livestock intervention programme was unveiled by Governor Fatuma Achani in Golini area of Matuga sub-county.
Achani who distributed 228 gala goats of improved genetics, says the initiative seeks to help lift local “livestock keepers out of poverty”.
The goats were issued to farmers of the region under the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development (KEMFSED) program.
The KEMFSED project is implemented by the national government through the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries, with support from the World Bank.
Achani explained that the decision to give the beneficiaries goats was because of its great economic value and the simplicity in rearing them.
“We are committed to making sure that livestock farming is prospering by improving the breeding of cattle, goats and sheep in the region,” she said.
The latest goat distribution exercise comes months after the devolved unit issued 550 bucks and 30 pedigree bulls that can withstand harsh climatic conditions to farmers across 10 administrative wards to help them improve their animal breeds.
She noted that the gala goats’ donation was one of the agricultural value chain programs aimed at increasing livestock productivity and profitability in the region.
Achani says the move to empower smallholder livestock farmers is part of the devolved government’s drive to promote food sufficiency.
The governor says the empowerment of goat farmers was intended at multiplying the local breed of goats and creating employment opportunities for the residents in the region.
Achani who was accompanied by her Deputy Chirema Kombo and the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture Roman Shera advised the goat farmers in the region to utilize the opportunity and promote the course of agriculture in the county.
She urged the beneficiaries to utilize the animals to better their local breeds and not to sell them off.
The Governor said the agricultural empowering scheme will continue until farmers in Kwale can take to the market bigger and better animals that will help them earn more.
“By providing farmers with high-quality breeding stock we are equipping them with the necessary resources to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the development of our county,” she said.
She said goat farming is a major part of agricultural activities as they play a significant role in the local economy, food security, and livelihoods of livestock keepers.
Achani said the empowerment initiative was designed “to ensure food security and livelihoods in the region from medium to long-term.”
The governor says goats continue to be an important source of income and nutrition to many poor and marginal farmers in Kwale.
Ali Khadi, a veteran livestock keeper says the empowerment initiative will in the long run revitalize the livestock industry, bring stability and income to livestock keepers.
Khadi says the gala goats will help many farmers reach economic independence and resilience in the face of challenges by boosting food security, increasing household earnings and reducing poverty.
By Hussein Abdullahi
