Turkana university college has teamed up with the county livestock department to deworm and trim sheep and goats’ hooves as part of the varsity’s initiative to support livestock farmers in the region.
The varsity acting principal Prof George Chemining’wa also led the university staff in planting 220 tree seedlings donated by Kenya Forest Research Institute, Lodwar office.
Prof Cheminingw’a said apart from running the academic programmes the university also impacts the society around the campus hence the decision to partner with the county livestock department to improve livestock productivity.
‘As a university we shall continue to support the community to improve the livestock productivity because most residents are pastoralists and depend on livestock keeping for their livelihoods,’ said Prof Chemining’wa.
He added that the university will be holding the activity every year and scale it up to benefit not only Turkana central sub county residents but other sub counties as well.
He added that the university will plant more trees with the help of KEFRI and also train famers how to plant their trees in their compounds for environmental conservation.
The varsity’s dean school of science and Technology Dr Peter Edome said livestock management is a core activity of the university because of the pastoral economy which generates revenue for the county residents.
‘We were targeting 300 livestock in today’s exercise but next financial year we shall be targeting 1,000 livestock,’ said Dr Edome.
He said the university and professionals from the livestock department will continue to work together to disseminate knowledge to the community on how to manage livestock diseases for more livestock productivity.
KEFRI assistant scientist Basil Kaudo said the institute in line with its mission of conducting research had partnered with the TUC to plant 220 tree seedlings of various tree species.
The Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) is a state corporation established in 1986 and mandated to undertake research in forestry and allied natural resources.
The institute conducts research and development activities under five thematic areas namely: Forest productivity and Improvement; Biodiversity and Environment Management; Forest Products Development; Social-economics, Policy and Governance and Technical Support Services.
By Peter Gitonga
