Migori County Livestock and Agriculture Department has launched the sixth phase of one dairy cow per tobacco farmer in seven sub counties.
The project is aimed at reducing tobacco growing and uplifting alternative farming.
Speaking during the launch of the launch of the project, Governor Okoth Obado stated that the initiative aims to boost dairy farming.
The launch took place at Obadokaramu slaughterhouse grounds in Kuria West.
In this financial year 2021/2022 the county government has given out a total of 139 in-calf dairy heifers,50 of the animals were funded by the county and the other 89 were funded through community projects
Okoth Obado
“This initiative is aimed at achieving our overall goal of increasing milk production for improved food security and nutrition of households in Migori,” said Obado.
Improved livelihoods
He also highlighted that the dairy cows will improve the livelihood of residents through the sale of milk and providing nutrition.
He noted that the residents will benefit from cow dung which will act as manure for their crops.
“In this financial year 2021/2022 the county government has given out a total of 139 in-calf dairy heifers,50 of the animals were funded by the county and the other 89 were funded through community projects,’ said Obado.
The Governor noted that the in-calf dairy animals have costed Sh24 million.
Since the inception of the programme in the 2014/15 financial year, the one Dairy cow per sugarcane/Tobacco farmer project has greatly boosted the income of our farmers and also increased the milk production in the county
Obado
Increased milk production
Obado said each of the 5,720 households involved in the project has increased by an average of Sh12, 000 per month.
“Since the inception of the programme in the 2014/15 financial year, the one Dairy cow per sugarcane/Tobacco farmer project has greatly boosted the income of our farmers and also increased the milk production in the county,” said Obado.
The dairy programmes are estimated to have contributed to reducing the county’s milk deficit by close to 10 per cent per annum.
Important statistics
According to the Economic Survey of 2019, the quantities of milk may be affected by the projected increase in the Kenyan population.
To this day, a total of 539 in-calf dairy cows and 124 Sahiwal breeding bulls have been passed out to various farmers.
About 242 pass-on of calves to other farmers within the clusters in Kuria East, Kuria West, Suna West, Suna East, Uriri, Awendo and Rongo Sub-counties have been achieved.
On the other hand, the Sahiwal breeding bulls have produced 427 Sahiwal offspring in Nyatike Sub County.
The Governor, however, condemned recent evil actions of the attack on animals that have invaded the various parts of the county.