State to conduct livestock survey in 39 counties

Kisumu,

Tuesday July 9, 2024,

KNA by Victor Seda and Regina Gichuki

The State Department for Livestock Development is set to conduct a livestock household resources data collection survey in 39 counties to establish status of the sector in the country.

Results of the exercise to be conducted this month with support from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics will help the government to formulate a national livestock masterplan to drive the sector forward.

Ward Livestock Development Officers in collaboration with other livestock stakeholders will visit villages in the 39 livestock producing counties to identify and enumerate livestock keeping households.

Dr. George Odhiambo, one of the focal persons for the program in Kisumu county said the exercise targets to come up with repository for livestock data for effective planning for the sector.

Besides the national master plan, each of the 39 counties will come up with a county masterplan to guide on the various interventions required to take the sector to the next level.

The masterplans will inform policy and development initiatives in the livestock sector at national and county level.

Dr. Odhiambo said will be of immense benefit to farmers since the government will use the available data to reach the farmers with various programs and interventions.

"When the county government wants to improve meat and milk production through breeding programs for example, the livestock resources data will be essential in ensuring this is possible," he said.

Other areas to benefit from the study include artificial insemination, disease control programs and vaccination services.

 In Kisumu, Odhiambo said, 8 people have been trained to conduct the survey, which kicks off on 14th July.

All enumeration areas have been identified by the County government ahead of the exercise, he added.

Courtesy; KNA