State unveils livestock off-take plan in Kajiado
Kenya Meat Commission (KMC), Athi-River is set to commence livestock off take programme in Kajiado county to save 450,000 cattle at the verge of succumbing to hunger.
This is according to Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi.
Speaking in Kajiado during a fact finding mission to assess the extent and effects of drought in the region yesterday, Linturi said the government will fund KMC with a tune of Sh350 million to buy livestock from farmers in the region.
“We were not so prepared but from the devastating situation we have seen here is an emergency. We do not have solutions for all problems but deliberating on the issue to find solutions. We have had intense discussions with all key stakeholders.
The president has ordered the Treasury to release Sh350 million to KMC to buy emaciated cattle to save them from dying. That is the immediate intervention we have put in place and we will continue with discussions to see the best way to handle the situation,” said Linturi.
The CS said KMC will work hand in hand with National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) to ensure even emaciated livestock are considered to avert any losses among affected farmers.
“ We will also consider increasing KMC funding to ensure the programme fully benefits the affected farmers,”said the CS.
Governor Joseph ole Lenku lauded the move saying it will be of great benefit to locals. He also urged stakeholders deliberating and setting the cattle prices to buy the livestock with prices that will help the farmers restock their animals in future. Lenku further said the county government is focused on sensitizing locals to embrace modern farming to avert losses occasioned by severe drought.
Senator Seki Kanar noted that there is a high number of school dropouts due to hunger and lack of school fees.
