Governor urges residents to diversify agriculture

Nyandarua,

Tuesday November 28, 2023

KNA by Antony Mwangi

Laikipia governor, Joshua Irungu has advised residents of Karaba area in Laikipia County to discard the traditional breed of cattle and farming methods and instead embrace newer techniques in farming.

The governor said that relying on maize and milk from the indigenous cattle will never lift them from poverty. He instead urged them to keep high milk yielding cows to ensure they get some profit. 

 “Relying on maize farming and keeping of indigenous cows that give you only two litres of milk daily is a sure way of remaining poor,” said Irungu.

He was speaking at a public meeting in Karaba area of Laikipia West where residents complained about the incessant crop destruction they are encountering from the elephants that have escaped from the nearby Lariak forest.

 Residents’ spokesperson, Peter Kamau, said they had tried to grow beans, soya and avocados but the crops became an attraction to elephants.

 The meeting that was also attended by Senator John Kinyua and Marmanet MCA Simon Kanyutu who had been called to address how to end the perennial wildlife-human conflict.

Lariak forest covers a total of 7088 hectare and is home to hundreds of elephants and other wild animals.

 The governor promised to ensure that groundbreaking for the construction of the electric fence is done before the end of the year.

 “When I push the national government to erect the fence, I expect you to start growing other crops to uplift your economic standards”, Irungu said promising to avail seeds for soya and beans to the residents.

 The governor agreed to buy solar batteries to increase voltage to the existing live wire fence done by the community as they wait for the construction of the electric fence.

 He also agreed to employ local youths to maintain the existing community fence and continue doing so when the electric one is done.

Courtesy; KNA