Turkana County has rolled out a livestock feeding programme targeting 750 households in Kanamkemer and Kangathota Wards of Turkana Central Sub-county.
The County Executive for Agriculture, Pastoral Economy and Fisheries, Philip Ebei Aemun, said 37.5 Metric tonnes of range cubes was offered by Peace Winds Japan Organization, to cushion livestock farmers from the ravages of drought, after the region experienced scarcity of pasture.
The move was to offer farmers alternative feeds for the livestock and give time for pasture to regenerate during the ongoing rains.
At Loturerei village, 150 households each received a 50Kg bag of range cubes while the remaining 600 bags will be distributed to Naipa,Naoros and Akatuman areas of Kangathota Ward as from tomorrow.
Aemun said, “the launch of the program at Loturerei is a beginning of drought mitigation measures by the County Government and livestock partners that’s intended to protect breeding herds and lactating ones from starvation due to lack of key nutrients that support important body functions.”
The County Executive said other actors, including those involved in desert control have been mobilized to cheap in and help in the purchase of the supplementary feeds to support livestock farmers after devastating losses due to prolonged drought.
According to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), early warning report, Turkana County had been classified at alarm phase of the drought cycle.
Acting County Director for Livestock Production, Bobby Ekadon, regretted that the drought had disrupted availability of pasture and water for livestock, warning that the current rains experienced might worsen livestock body conditions before regeneration of pasture.
Others present included Peace Winds Japan Turkana Field Coordinator, Daniel Ekal, as well as Deputy Directors, Geoffrey Apedor (Administration) and Ernest Anzenze (Livestock Marketing).
County Livestock Production Officers were also present.
By Peter Gitonga
