The Narok County Government has launched a vaccination programme against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) targeting over 1.5 million cattle in the county.
Speaking during the launch at Nkoillale Livestock Yard on Tuesday, Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu reiterated that the government has subsidised the vaccine and the farmers will be required to pay only Sh50 per cow.
“Normally, vaccination against FMD costs Sh160 per cow, however, through this subsidy, the government will cover Sh110 to make it affordable to the farmers,” he said.
He noted that the vaccination will take place after farmers have registered their animals in the E-voucher system and undergone sensitisation.
“The purpose of the E-voucher system is ensuring accountability and equity in distribution of subsidies as well as ensuring accurate breeding records,” he added.
Ntutu added that the programme will be managed at the ward level through existing farmer cooperatives, with each ward having a committee that comprises farmers’ representatives, chiefs, ward administrators, and livestock extension officers.
The farmers who have not yet registered with Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS) will be given the opportunity to do so, ensuring they too can benefit from the subsidy.
The governor reported that the vaccines have been procured exclusively from the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) and training and sensitisation forums had been completed.
“We recognize that the county has a shortage of agricultural extension officers, so we have engaged 15 veterinary surgeons and 130 animal health experts, all licensed by the Kenya Veterinary Board, to ensure the success of the program,” said the governor.
Kilgoris Member of Parliament (MP) Julius Sunkuli, Director KEVEVAPI Dr. Alex Sabuni, Narok County Commissioner Lotiatia Kipkech, a host of Members from the Narok County Assembly and officers from the Livestock department, accompanied the governor.
Dr Sabuni assured the farmers that the vaccine had undergone the necessary testing and had been proven to be effective in controlling the disease.
“The exercise targets to improve the productivity and quality of milk and meat. It will bring veterinary and other livestock production services closer to farmers hence remove quacks from misleading farmers,” he added.
On his part, MP Sunkuli thanked the Kenya Kwanza administration for the subsidy and called on the livestock farmers to take advantage of the cheap vaccine to vaccinate their livestock.
“The vaccine will open better markets for Narok’s livestock products, especially meat, as international buyers often demand proof of vaccination before purchasing,” he said.
Commissioner Kipkech said the government had introduced many programs to boost farmers in the country and called on farmers to ensure their livestock were vaccinated during this vaccination season.
The National Government, through the agricultural pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), has already enhanced agricultural productivity by providing subsidized fertilizer.
In Narok, over 350, 000 bags of fertilizer were distributed during the long rains and 100, 000 bags will be issued during the short rains.
In the same spirit, the government now seeks to extend subsidies to the livestock sector, with the priority action being vaccination of livestock against notable diseases.
By Ann Salaton
