Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Co-operatives and MSMEs Development Simon Chelugui has urged Baringo residents to take advantage of the first ever feedlot programme in the country to improve their livelihoods.
Speaking during a county dissemination forum of the Fourth Medium Term Plan 2023-2027 at the Kenya School of Government, Baringo Campus, Chelugui encouraged farmers from the region to subscribe to the Olmarai livestock cooperative society, which will manage the national pilot project in Mogotio Sub County.
The CS stated that the State Department of Cooperatives, in collaboration with the other ten ministries, plans to have 15,000 hybrid bulls to increase the production of high-quality beef and leather products for the local and export markets.
“I am urging farmers from the region to start registering with Sh1,000 and buy shares of Sh5,000 so that they can be the first to benefit from the national government initiative,” he said.
Chelugui made the remarks after the national technical implementation committee conducted a week-long community sensitization and membership recruitment exercise across seven sub-counties in Baringo.
The CS said the national government will identify three to four other places to establish more feedlots in the county. He also revealed that 600 bulls, 200 he-goats, and 200 rams have already been delivered to start off the livestock improvement programme.
He at the same time reiterated the government’s commitment to improving the dairy sector through an upcoming government initiative dubbed ‘one farmer, one dairy cow’ that seeks to increase milk productivity as well as provide income to households.
“We are partnering with the European Union in coming up with a programme of one farmer, one dairy cow, where we shall group farmers into cooperatives; thus, we are urging the devolved units to support the worthy course because when we team up, that local farmer at the grassroots will greatly benefit,” said Chelugui.
Governor Benjamin Cheboi lauded the national government for the feedlots programme, which he said will boost the meat value chain in the pastoralist county.
He revealed that the county prides itself on having over 1 million cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively, which, if farmers are assisted to improve and sustain production, can play an integral part in the economy and daily livelihoods of residents.
According to Assistant Commissioner for Cooperatives Peter Wanjohi, who led the sensitization exercise, the project, which will commence in the first quarter of the 2024–2025 financial year, targets 5,000 members in Baringo and will provide seed capital for the first lot of 400 cows.
By Benson Kelio
