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Agriculture

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Monday received a donation of IT equipment from KCEP-CRAL officials.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Monday received a donation of IT equipment from Kenya Cereal Enhancement Program Climate Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods (KCEP-CRAL) officials to boost the Sub-County Agricultural Officers’ performance on data and information management flow.
The KCEP-CRAL team led by the Senior Program Coordinator Dr. Cosmas Munyeke was in Makueni for an official introductory meeting on the program to the governor as they hand over the equipment.
KCEP-CRAL program, which kicked off in 2018 in Makueni, aims to reduce rural poverty and food insecurity among smallholder farmers in arid and semi-arid lands by developing their economic potential, while improving their natural resource management capacity and resilience to climate change in an increasingly fragile ecosystem.
At least 16,000 subsistence farmers have benefited from the program through the provision of farm inputs through e- voucher system, financial inclusion, post-production management practices and market linkages for targeted value chains.

Local farmers benefit from Goat Improvement Program for increased household income

At least 400 farmers from Kikumbulyu South Ward on Wednesday benefited from goat improvement programme that is aimed at increasing milk production and household income.  The initiative involved provision of Galla breeding bucks and does and capacity building of the farmers on best goat management practices. The Galla goats were also vaccinated against Contagious Caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) by a Vet doctor before the distribution exercise. 
 
According to livestock and  veterinary experts, the Galla breed has a faster growth rate, has higher market weight and produces higher milk yields, compared to the Small East African Goat, the dominant breed in the ward.
The distribution of the Galla breed was commissioned by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili who was hosted by Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua and Area MCA Jades Kalunda at Mkamba cultural Centre in Mikiyuni.
Mulili lauded the initiative and urged the farmers to invest massively in the best breeding practise to improve livelihoods.  Mutua called on Makueni residents to prioritize agriculture, irrigation and livestock projects during this year’s public participation process.
 

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr Launches Countywide Livestock Vaccination to boost Herd’s Immunity against Trans-boundary Animal Diseases

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr Launches Countywide Livestock Vaccination to boost Herd’s Immunity against Trans-boundary Animal Diseases
Mutula Kilonzo Junior on Friday, during Kalawa Ward development tour, officially launched the Annual Livestock Vaccination program at Kathulumbi Stockyard in Katangi Market.
The program is geared towards boosting the herd’s immunity against trans-boundary animal diseases.
The County government is targeting to vaccinate at least 100, 000 cattle and 150,000 sheep and goats across 465 sites in all the Sub- Counties in Makueni.
According to the Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua, the vaccination program is highly subsidized and each beneficiary will pay a fee of Sh 20 for cattle and Sh 5 for sheep and goats. Besides, deworming services will be provided for free.

Ghana Bench Marks on Mango Value Addition, Lauds the Kalamba Processing Plant.

Makueni Agriculture and Irrigation Chief Officer Daniel Ndolo on Monday hosted a high powered delegation from Ghana who are in Makueni for a bench marking tour on Mango value addition.
The team which comprises Mango producers, processors and Exporters is seeking for trading opportunities with the County government through the Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority.
They visited some Mango farmers around Mwaani area and the Makueni Fruit processing plant at Kalamba.
The team was thrilled by the factory and lauded the County government for the efforts it has put in place towards reduction of post harvest losses in mango production.
According to the Makueni Fruit Development and Marketing Authority Acting Chief Executive Officer Agnes Kitili, the county government spent over Sh18 Million to pay local mango farmers for supply to the plant during this year’s mango season.

Governor’s development tour.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, accompanied by County Commissioner, several MCAs commissions Winzeni micro-Irrigation project at the River bed of River Athi in Kitise/Kithuki ward.
The project once complete will irrigate 30 acres of land. This is one among 11 micro Irrigation projects scattered in dry wards of mavindini, kitise/Kithuki, Kikumbulyu South, kikumbulyu North, mbitini and kalawa.
The Governor also led a food distribution drive to several families from the area.
 
 
 
 
 

Agriculture Fair attracts hundreds of local farmers to learn best agriculture practices.

Hundreds of local farmers on Thursday flocked to ATC Kwa-kathoka for a Farmers exchange and exhibition, an event that created a platform for farmers to learn on best agriculture practices as well as buy products from various exhibitors.
The agriculture fair brought together exhibitors from 8 counties, private companies, government institutions and local farmers who displayed various agricultural products and technologies.
The theme of the Farmers exhibition is, “Producing safe and nutritious food for a healthy population.”
Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua flagged by her Devolution counterpart Japheth Mang’oka officially opened the 2-day fair.
She urged the local farmers to take advantage of the fair and learn different technologies and methods that they can use to grow food and feed the masses amidst adverse effects of climate change.

Makueni to hold agriculture fair to expose farmers to new technologies

Makueni to hold agriculture fair to expose farmers to new technologies

Makueni County through the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives Development is set to host the first-ever Famers Exchange and Expo at ATC Kwa-Kathoka from 2nd to 3rd March, 2023

The exhibition will provide a platform for farmers to learn from each other, especially on new technologies, and display their produce, equipment and technologies to potential clients who will be attending the agriculture fair.

 

Makueni to Roll out Countywide Mass Livestock Vaccination program

The County Government of Makueni through the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development is set to roll out a mass vaccination program in March, targeting at least 200,000 livestock across the county.
The livestock diseases targeted for vaccination include foot and mouth disease, Lumpy skin disease in cattle while sheep and goats will be vaccinated for contagious pneumonia and goat plague
Currently, the department has prioritized vaccination of dairy cows due to their vulnerability ahead of the mass vaccination.
According to Agriculture CEC Joyce Mutua, the exercise is being implemented in partnership with Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society Limited and aims at increasing household incomes of dairy farmers in Makueni through reduction of livestock disease outbreaks.
The Cooperative is facilitating the aggregation of animals at a central point for vaccination as well link the vaccinators to farmers who prefer vaccination of the animals in their own crushes and homes.
On its part, the county government is conducting farmer sensitization on livestock disease control and other veterinary matters, and coordinating the procurement, collection, storage and delivery of livestock vaccines
Mutua, however, adds that the services will be accessed at a subsidized fee of Sh. 50. Per animal.

500 households benefit from emergency livestock feeds

At least 500 selected households from Kilome Sub-County will benefit from emergency livestock feeds program, courtesy of a partnership between the County Government of Makueni and the European Union (EU) through the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA).

The feeds will address the crisis of reduced quantity of pasture and fodder for livestock due to the little rainfall experienced in the area during the October-December rain season.

The distribution exercise was launched yesterday (Thursday) by Agriculture CEC Joyce Mutua and officials from NDMA in Kiima-kiu/Kalanzoni ward, and is ongoing in various locations within the sub-county.

Previously, the department of agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperatives Development has implemented various contingency activities in the livestock sector. Some of them are treatment and deworming of animals, vaccination of goats against Contagious Caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP 3), one of the most severe diseases of goats, and capacity building of officers on Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards.