Migori residents have been encouraged to utilise Artificial Insemination services to prevent brucellosis disease in dairy farming.
Migori County Director Livestock Mr. Charles Nyaanga said that the continuous usage of bulls to service the cows in the county would put the daily production and animal health at risk.
Nyaanga who spoke during farmers’ field day in Rongo Sub County noted that farmers were using the services of local bulls risking the spread of the brucellosis disease to the entire herd of animals in the county.
He said that brucellosis is a bacterial infection that spreads from animal to animal and from animal to human through eating raw or unpasteurized dairy products.
Nyaanga said that treating brucellosis may cost a farmer Sh6,000, a costly affair that most farmers could not afford.
The official urged dairy farmers to utilise the services of AI service to reduce animal transmitted diseases like brucellosis, Influenza, and Rabies.
“I encourage our daily farmers to always seek preventative methods like vaccinating all their domestic animals to further reduce the inter transmission of diseases among the animals,” said Nyaanga.
He promised the dairy farmers that the county through the service extension officers will continue to provide training and extension services to the local farmers on issues of crop and animal production.
The official however urged farmers to join working groups to fully benefit from the extension services and grants from both the county and national government.
Nyaanga added that the county had fewer extension officers who could be easily accessed through formed associations and farmers’ groups.
Migori County Kenya National Association of Farmers Federation Chairperson (KENAFF) Peter Chacha said that the organisation would continue to support farmers, especially those in working groups to improve their agricultural production as well as project their concerns at the county and national levels.
Chacha encouraged the farmers’ groups to focus on agri business, a modern and smart farming that brings more profits through value addition.
He said that the KENAFF would always support the groups in terms of market accessibility and crop production training to improve agricultural production in the county.
Migori County Agricultural Department has been engaging with the local residents through training sessions on various local and community based radio stations to improve the agricultural production in the county.
