BUSIA COUNTY PROMOTES GOAT DAIRY FARMING TO EMPOWER FARMERS ECONOMICALLY
The County government of Busia through the Department of Agriculture issued out 46 dairy goats to farmers across the county.
Farmers from various self-help groups in four wards within Busia County received goats from the Kenya Livestock and Commercialization Project (KeLCop) in a pilot program to increase their daily income through dairy goat farming.
Selected groups that practice goat farming from Elugulu ward in Butula sub-county, Bunyala North ward in Budalangi Sub- County, Nambuku/Namboboto ward, and Amukura West in Teso South benefitted from the project a move that will see them venture into goat farming for commercial purposes.
“We are currently in four wards across the County and we selected these wards based on population, availability of other stakeholders to partner with, and poverty levels. Our goal is to upscale the project and spread it to other parts of the county,” said Mr Radoli Shiundu the Busia County KeLCop coordinator.
According to him, farmers with Indigenous variety will also access the buck services (male servicing) to get an improved variety of goats from the Indigenous variety adding that the purpose of encouraging indigenous goats to be serviced by dairy buck is to upgrade from the Indigenous goats to improved varieties.
Ms. Mildred Okello Musumba from the Bulemia Dairy goat farmers self-help group noted that they have received 12 dairy goats from KeLCop and they believe upon maturity the goats will benefit them economically and nutrition-wise.
Her sentiments were echoed by George Mulamba the dairy goat farmer from Bukhalalire in Marachi central ward.