CEC member for Agriculture and livestock Gilchrist Okuom addressing Farmers baraza in South East Nyakach (Picture by Norbert Wekesa)

By Harriet Chausiku

The county departments of Agriculture and the Business cooperative held a stakeholders’ forum with farmers of South East Nyakach ward to deliberate on the formation of a dairy cooperative society in the area.

The cooperative is expected to enable farmers to collectively market their products, train each other on better ways of dairy keeping, learn more about various diseases affecting dairy cows and share the challenges and successes they have encountered. 

South East Nyakach ward being a highly potential dairy farming area has so far received the highest number of cows from the county government to promote dairy farming in Kisumu.

Speaking during the meeting the CEC member, Mr. Gilchrist Okuom said that the formation of a cooperative society will help take back Livestock production to its pick as it was in the old days.

The CEC member confirmed that the ward received a total of 56 cattle and 18 goats in the last 2 years making it the model ward for dairy production and he is therefore looking forward to the transformation of the practiced Agriculture into an Agribusiness.

He also encouraged more production and assured the residents on upgrading the breeds they have by procuring cattle from different regions and to practice artificial insemination to boost milk production for the market

The farmers were also encouraged to do integrated farming for food security, animal feed and also look at their products from an extensive view which includes the byproducts like cream, cheese and ghee which is exported with its chain of benefits.

The area MCA Ho Johnson Guya said that he is looking forward to starting a Milk processing plant in the next one or two years and would wish to bring both South East and part of South West Nyakach ward residents to work together so that they can be able to produce in bulk and sustain it.

Hon. Guya urged the farmers to take good care of the Livestock handed over to them noting that out of the 14 cattle issued only 3 of them died and the rest calved down with the production of 10 to 16 liters of milk per day.

Hon. Guya also thanked the county government of Kisumu for working together in boosting milk production in the Nyakach sub-county and for the seeds issued to the residents for food and was hopeful that the product will boost food security in the area.

A team of seven fishmongers from Jubilee fish market led by Mr. Joseph Owino together with Mr. Abisai from chicken basket, today received hand wash equipment and protective gears courtesy of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) working closely with the County Government to help prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus among food handlers.

This initiative which is in line with the county’s COVID-19 response plan seeks to strengthen health protocols and enhance the capacity of traders to address the Coronavirus disease challenge. 

FAO through its program dubbed Integrated Country Approach (ICA) meant to boost decent jobs for youth in Agri- food Systems in Kakamega and Siaya along the fish and poultry value chain learnt from the actors that Jubilee market in Kisumu is the main market for fish dealers and the Chicken basket also provides ready market for poultry farmers in Siaya and Kakamega.

It is against this premise that FAO representatives held a consultative forum with fish traders from Jubilee market to ascertain some of the challenges they face especially during this period of Covid -19 pandemic.

In response to their immediate needs and to enhance consumer value on matters food handling, FAO has donated 74bottles of hand liquid soap of one litter each, 10 handwashing peddle basins of 40 litters each, 310 re-usable face masks, 100 packets of surgical face masks. 3 number infra-red thermo guns and 62 pieces of food safety hand gloves.

While presiding over the official handing over of the equipment to the traders, the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock and Fisheries, Mr. Gilchrist Okuom thanked the partners for their timely response. 

Noting that businesses have been affected across the globe due to the pandemic, he urged the traders to adhere to the health protocols in order to do business in a safe environment taking personal responsibility to enhance their safety and that of their customers.

“You perform a critical role in consumers lives that is why you were identified for the support. Therefore, you must keep yourself and those around you safe by wearing your masks appropriately and avoid complacency because you are dealing with somebody you know” Mr Okuom said.

He also tasked them to take care of the equipment so that it can serve them longer and that water should be made available in the wash basins throughout for people to use.

The County Executive Member Mr. Okuom was flunked by two Chief Officers from his department, Dr. Paul Omanga and Madam Rosemary Raluoch who also echoed the importance of adhering to the preventive measures including hygiene, social distancing, and regular handwashing among the traders.

By: Emily Mikwa

Community members of Nyakach planting kales on the micro garden

The training session for the extension officers entered day two with a focus on the importance of urban agriculture.

While there is steady rise in human population, more people continue to starve globally hence prompting the adoption of urban farming technologies as a measure to sustain lives and to demystify the notion that farming is mainly for the rural folk.

Urban agriculture also known as urban farming, refers to growing plants and rearing animals that produce food within a city or town.

It also comprises processing and then distributing that produce throughout the city.

The green home technologies such as moist gardens, shade net, micro gardens, key hole garden, hanging gardens, multi storey garden and green houses are progressively emerging as sources of nutrition and food security in the urban and peri urban settlements.

Besides offering food security, urban farming also comes with an array of benefits including job opportunities in line with agri business, community building due to shared responsibilities, it is educative as it involves both adults, youths and children, an ambience of green spaces with aesthetic appeal, reduction of surface run offs and fixing of carbon through photosynthesis.

The emerging farming technologies do not require large parcels of land and the input is affordable hence can be done by anyone. They are also considered a form of exercise to town dwellers who are perceived to only engage in lighter activities.

The major challenge experienced with this kind of farming are the old legislative restrictions on urban farming that should be reviewed to conform to the changing times.

By: Emily Mikwa