MIFUGO NEWS
Edition
June 2014
9th
A Publication of the Department of Livestock Production
 Use of sexed semen in dairy germplasm multiplication
 Bees abroad project in Kenya wins government funding
 The effects of climate change on livestock resources in the
rangelands
 Improving value addition and marketing of milk for smallholders
 Quail production
 Hydrophonics – kikuyu district’s new adoption
 Lugari farmers embrace mono sex tilapia cat fish over mixed sex
tilapia
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 1
Editorial Board
Table of Contents
From The Director of Livestock Production…………………………3
Editorial……………………………………………………………………………..3
Cabinet Secretary
Felix Kiptarus Koskei
Principal Secretary
Dr. Khadijah Kassachoon
Director Livestock Production
Julius Kiptarus
Editorial Board
Chairman
Albin Sang
Editor in chief
Patrick Nkonge
Secretary
Mary kitheka
Deputy Editor
Joseph Muhwanga
Graphics and Photography
David Yongo
Illustrations and cartoons
Blaise Okinyi
Publicity and Advertising
Rajab Obama
Distribution
Walter Mwangovya
ICT
Ondieki Orare
Member
Mwangi H.G
Animal Production Society of Kenya –The Professional
Choice…………………………………………………………………………………4
Use Of Sex Smen In Dairy Germplasm Multiplication By
Eastern Africa Agricultural Productivity (EAAP) Project In
Kenya………………………………………………………………………………….7
Bees Abroad Project In Kenya Wins Government Funding..9
The effects of climate change on livestock resources in the
rangelands (ASALs) of Kenya……………………………………………..12
Maize Stover Andf Cobs Fortification in Livestock Feeding In
Tana River County…………………………………………………………….14
Improving Value Addition And Marketing Of Milk For
Smallholders (VAMMS) In East African Region Project………16
Young And Passionate About Pig Farming ;Cynthia Story….20
Quail production……………………………………………………………….21
Social Inclusion in Agriculture Income Generation Through
Farming by Persons Having Special Needs…………………………23
Food Security Lessons From India……………………………………..26
Macalder Sheep and Goats Station……………………………………29
Success Story…………………………………………………………………….29
Hydrophonics;Kikuyu District New Adoption…………………….30
A smart farmer in githuguri sub-county…………………………….34
The benefits of laptop in schools………………………………………37
Smallholder Dairy Commercialization Project; A Case Of Sot
Dairy Company Limited in Bomet………………………………………38
Njaa Marufuku Kenya (NMK) A Poverty Eradication
Programme In the Ministry……………………………………………….40
Lugari Farmers Embrace Mono Sex Tilapia Cat Fish Over
Mixed Sex Tilapia………………………………………………………………43
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 2
From The Director
Livestock Production
of
Julius Kiptarus
The Department is proud to
release the 9th Edition of
the Mifugo News Magazine.
I wish to thank the editorial
board for their input and
commitment in coming up
with this edition. This departmental
magazine serves as a platform for
dissemination and exchange of current
information,
technologies
and
experiences by key actors in the
livestock industry.
Overtime,
the
Department
has
embraced the value chain approach in
livestock
development,
as
such
recognizes the activities, roles and
challenges of the various players in the
industry. In this regard, I wish to
assure all stakeholders that the
department will continue to partner
with them with an ultimate goal of
achieving sustained production and
market access for livestock and
livestock products.
It is worth noting that livestock
significantly
contribute
towards
household food and nutritional security
particularly among pastoralists and
vulnerable members of the society. The
livestock sector however has the
potential to provide adequate supply of
all animal products and by-products to
meet domestic needs and generate
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
surplus for export especially now with
the enhanced trading within the East
African Community. In this regard, the
government has laid out strategies to
improve livestock production and
productivity. This include strategies to
develop and conserve animal genetic
resources; improve livestock nutrition,
feeds and feeding; improve research and
extension linkages; and putting markets
at the centre of all production,
processing, product development and
packaging. Further, the government
through the department is in the
process of establishing the Livestock
Enterprise
Development
Fund
to
cushion losses of livestock based
livelihoods to natural disasters. These
strategies are in line with the Jubilee
manifesto and Kenya’s economic blue
print- Vision 2030.
Finally, the department in collaboration
with other partners continues to
promote livestock productivity through
implementation of various initiatives in
the country. Among these are: the
Smallholder Dairy Commercialization
Project; Eastern Africa Agricultural
Productivity Project; Kenya Agricultural
Productivity Project and Agriculture
Sector Development Support Project.
Editorial
By Patrick Nkonge
Page 3
Welcome to yet another issue of “Mifugo
Newsletter”. This is the 9th edition of the
Department of Livestock Production
magazine. It is a biannual publication
which informs on technical issues to
professionals in livestock production,
farmers
and
stakeholders.
The
magazine provides a platform for
stakeholders to share experiences,
information and knowledge. The topics
are carefully selected to cover a wide
range of livestock and other related
enterprises.
Read about a young and passionate
famer, who quite white collar job for Pig
farming and takes pride of her
successes. She advises young people to
take farming as a profession and retire
from farming and not retire to farming.
Read more about Quail farming to
diversify your poultry production. The
Quails were promoted by ancient
Japanese Emperors who valued their
meat and eggs; why not you?
Tana River County is known for its
harsh dry conditions which pose great
challenge to agro-pastoral and pastoral
communities. In collaboration with
other stakeholders, the communities
have
adopted
irrigated
fodder
production to ensure feed availability
during dry spells. Bura Biskidera, a
livestock production group has gone
further into feed fortification (the
process of adding nutrients, essential
trace elements and vitamins to feed)
thus ensuring that high energy livestock
feed is locally available during times of
drought.
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Farmers need to maximize profit
margins for their livestock enterprises.
The
hydroponically
grown
barley
provides an alternative to commercial
concentrates in dairy and poultry
farming. Farmers have this to say about
the
technology
that
is
gaining
prominence in the country; “I have
replaced the concentrate usage on my
poultry and dairy cattle with the
hydroponically grown barley fodder.
Since I started feeding my dairy cows
with this fodder the milk has increased
by 1lt/day. My other cow is due in 2
months; I’m using this fodder to steam
it up” says Godana, a farmer in Rukubi
area of Kikuyu Sub County.
There are many more interesting topics
and I believe you will find the magazine
quite
relevant
and
informative.
Meanwhile, I thank you for your
continued support by donating articles
and giving feedback which has enabled
us to improve the magazine over time.
Editorial in chief;:[email protected]
Letters to the Editor
Write to us and give your comments, ideas and
captioned pictures of events
The Editor, Mifugo News Magazine, P.O Box
34188- 00100 Nairobi
Animal Production
Society of Kenya –The
Professional Choice
Page 4
By Judy Gachora, Secretary General
Introduction
The Animal Production Society of Kenya
(APSK) is a professional organisation
registered as a Society under Cap 108
Laws of Kenya. The membership is
drawn from government ministries,
research institutions, universities and
the private sector. The purposes and
objectives of the Association are to:
Provide a common forum for
research scientists, agricultural
trainers,
extension
officers,
farmers, processors, livestock
traders and other market actors
for the sharing of information;
Encourage
the
practical
application of research findings
and
generally
disseminate
knowledge in the field of animal
production;
Assist its members in selfdevelopment in their professions
especially with respect to project
proposals and linkages with
relevant organisations; and
Liaise
with
individuals
and
kindred Societies/ organisations
in Kenya and beyond including
those in the fields of agriculture,
wildlife,
fisheries
and
other
relevant fields.
committee comprises of the ChairmanDr Jack Ouda, V. Chairman- Mr Rophin
Nyange, Treasurer- Mr Samuel Mbuku,
Secretary General- Mrs Judy Gachora,
Organizing SecretaryMr Stanley
Mutua, Gender Representative-Beatrice
Nyakira, WAAP representative- Angela
Wokabi and Pastoralist Representative
Mr. David Golicha. The trustees consist
of four members of the association
appointed at the AGM. The branches
are five (two in Rift Valley and one each
in Nairobi, Central and Western).
Currently a total of over 300 members
are registered with the society and 150
are active members.
Membership
The society is open to professional
(graduate level and above) and students
in animal science, dairy science, natural
sciences, range management and
related professions. The members can
get registration details from our website
www.apsk.or.ke or through our email
account
[email protected].
A
registration fee of a thousand shilling is
paid on joining the society for
graduates. An annual subscription of
two thousand four hundred shillings is
paid by graduate members and five
hundred by student members. Members
within the Government can subscribe
through check-off of two hundred
shillings monthly.
Current Organizational Structure
Vision and mission
The patron of the society is the Cabinet
Secretary in charge of matter related to
livestock development. The executive
The vision of the Society is “To be a
model
professional
society
for
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 5
animal production scientists in the
region” while the mission is ‘To
provide a platform for promotion of
best practices and information
sharing
by
animal
production
scientists through establishment of
networks and skills development’
The society is guided by the following
core values in the pursuit of its goal and
objectives;
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
Professionalism,
Innovativeness,
Integrity,
Commitment,
Excellence,
Team work,
Transparency and accountability
Activities of the society
APSK holds National symposiums
annually for the members to share
knowledge in the field of animal
production
and
natural
resource
management and to identify knowledge
gaps for the sector. It also holds field
days, career talks and lobbies for
reforms in the agricultural sector. The
society is in the process of developing
an animal scientist bill that will seek to
regulate professional in the field to
ensure that correct information is
passed to clients and also that proper
ethics are adhered to by professionals.
The society is affiliated to the World
Association
of
Animal
Production
(WAAP).
APSK has a strategic plan which has
four broad objectives which include:
To increase membership of APSKwe have only recruited members
during our symposiums held
annually. We hope to expand this
to cover other institutions where
our members are found. We
would like to get a champion for
the society to assist in creating of
branches countrywide.
To
enhance
publicity
and
information
managementwe
would like to be felt more through
publication on important issues
in the society. Provide more
information to members and more
interactions.
To
develop
appropriate
institutional arrangement and
linkages- we would like to develop
partnerships that build the
professional.
To improve policy and legal
framework for members- we
would like to lobby for a legal
mandate to regulate professionals
to ensure ethics and growth in
the areas of professionalism.
The strategic plan covers the period
2013- 2017. This document and the
new constitution are available on our
website please read to be acquainted
with the society’s activities.
APSK strategic plan
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 6
Use Of Sex Semen In
Dairy Germplasm
Multiplication By
Eastern Africa
Agricultural Productivity
Project (EAAPP) in Kenya
By Benjamin Kibor
Dairy industry in Kenya
production systems are such that, 25%
of the cattle are owned by livestock
farmers
practicing
extensive
management systems, another 60% is
owned by small-scale farmers most of
whom practice zero-grazing (intensive)
management systems and 15% are
medium-scale producers practicing both
intensive
and
semi-intensive
management systems.
In spite of all these achievements in the
dairy industry in Kenya, the country and
most of the East African region
countries still suffer from an acute
shortage of dairy animals to constitute
basic
production
and
breeding
populations. Through Eastern Africa
Agricultural
Productivity
Project
(EAAPP),
this
shortage
is
being
addressed
by
enhancing
dairy
germplasm multiplication using sexed
semen. The approach adopted utilizes
Probability
The
Kenyan
dairy
sub-sector
contributes 4% of the GDP and
accounts for 14% of the agricultural
GDP. The dairy industry is considered
the most developed in the Sub-Saharan
Africa where it is a key economic and
social activity in the medium and high
potential regions of the country. The
industry
supports
over
9%
600,000 households in the
8%
country either directly or
7%
indirectly with over 500,000
6%
people in formal employment
5%
and over 50,000 people in
4%
informal dairy marketing.
About 1.8 million farmers
3%
under mixed and integrated
2%
farming systems are involved
1%
in dairy production thus
0%
providing
food
and
1
10
19
28
37
46
55
64
73
82
91
100
Number of Heifers
nutritional security. Milk
Heifers (no.) expected in 100 calvings – conventional semen
produced by cattle in the
country is both from the
new population germplasm sourced
exotic
cattle
and
their
crosses
from sexed semen to rapidly reproduce
contributing to 60% and 40% each
female calves and therefore heifers to
respectively. The exotic cattle are
address a shortfall in the country and
popular among the dairy farmers in the
the region in this much sought
order of Friesian, Ayrshire, Jersey and
replacement stock.
Guernsey. About 80% of the milk is
Use of sexed semen to produce
produced by small-holder farmers most
heifers and sources of semen
of whom are resource poor. The dairy
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 7
Sexed semen/gender selected/ gender
biased refers to predetermined or semen
that has undergone sperm sorting
meaning the type of sperm cell to
fertilize egg cell is chosen. X and Y
chromosomes in a sperm are separated
and the X chromosome from the sperm
is used to fertilize the ova which contain
only X chromosome (i.e. X-sperm + Xova = XX female). The technology to
separate X and Y sperm via flow
cytometry was developed in the 1980s.
In 1996 XY, Inc. became the exclusive
worldwide licensee of sperm separation
in non-human mammals.
conventional semen. In Holstein cows,
the conception rate would be 15% to
41%. However, there would also be
possible effect of parity, days in milk
and insemination at heat vs. timed AI.
In cows, conception rates would be ~
45% to 66% of conventional semen.
“The key to the value of sexed
semen…lies in the opportunity to have
better heifers.”
There are challenges associated with
use of sexed semen among them low
fertility as compared with conventional
semen.
This
is
due
to
lower
14%
Probability
Sperm
separation
is
12%
based on the fact that the
X chromosome is larger
10%
and
contains
8%
approximately 3.8% more
DNA
than
the
Y
6%
chromosome and it is
4%
this principle that is used
by the flow cytometry.
2%
After sorting, the semen
0%
is packaged into 1/4 ml
1
10
19
28
37
46
55
64
73
82
91
100
straws, frozen and stored
Number of heifers
in liquid nitrogen.
1Heifers (no.) expected in 100 calvings – sexed semen
The main advantage with
use of sexed semen is
concentration of sperm (2.1 million per
that there would be a reduction of
dose). There is also the potential
generation upgrading period for the
damage due to cold shock which is
local national herd as delays that are
greater in the 1/4 ml straw.
occasioned by the occurrence of bull
It is recommended that sexed semen be
calves are evaded. On average 9 out of
10 calves will be of the desired sex thus
used in well-managed virgin heifers of
more heifer calves in herd as illustrated
better genetic merit and should be
by figures 1 and 2 below.
inseminated 12 h after heat is observed.
It should also be noted that sexed
semen is not the ‘silver bullet” that
With the use of sexed semen, the
conception rate of 50% to 63% would be
cures what ails a reproductive or
expected for heifers. However in wellreplacement program and poor
managed virgin heifers, the conception
management.
rate would be ~70% to 85% of
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 8
In Kenya semen can be sourced from
Local A.I stud (KAGRC) - (conventional
semen) and imported genetics among
them are WWS, ABS TCM, Semex,
Bimida, CRI (Highchem), and Coopers.
Dairy Germplasm multiplication by
Eastern
Africa
Agricultural
Productivity Project (EAAPP)
Delivering sexed semen to KARI, Oljoro orok in
Nyandarua West district, Nyandarua County.
Eldoret East, Nakuru, Nakuru North
and Nyandarua Districts. A total of
Eastern Africa Agricultural Productivity
1200
heifers
were
targeted
for
Project (EAAPP), through its approach of
insemination
in
the
selected
creating
farms. Currently 900 straws of
regional
semen were procured and
centres
of
distributed (Fig. 3) to the
excellence
respective
districts
for
(CoEs)
for
inseminating
the
selected
agricultural
heifers.
Prior
to
inseminations,
components
the heifers were selected,
that have a
confirmed
(Fig.
4)
and
comparative
synchronized.
advantage
in
Inseminations with the 900
improving
straws of semen are almost
rural
complete and so far there were
livelihoods
about 12 % of repeats
Confirmed heifers at Sunbelt farm Kwanza
and
indicating the process was
district, Trans Nzoia County
regional
going on well. A second batch
economy,
of sexed semen is being procured by
has mandated Kenya to be the centre of
EAAPP and would be expected to
excellence for Dairy. Kenya as the host
increase the number of produced
to the dairy Center of excellence is
heifers in the next one year for sale
therefore mandated to supply dairy
within the country and spillovers to the
germplasm for Kenya and spillovers to
region.
the East African region where there is
short supply of quality breeding heifers.
Bees Abroad Project In
To achieve this mandate, sexed semen
was considered for fast tracking dairy
Kenya Wins Government
germplasm
multiplication
and
Funding
dissemination.
The process began with up scaling
germplasm multiplication in a few
selected institutional farms in Kwanza,
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
By Blaise Okinyi, Mary and John Home,
Kenya Beekeepers Network
Page 9
Bees Abroad has secured major funding
from the UK Department for International
Aid (DFID) for a three-year project to
alleviate
poverty
through
advancing
beekeeping skills and s u p p o r t i n g bioconservation and bio-enterprise in the
arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) in the
Kenyan County of Laikipia.
International Development Minister Lynne
Featherstone said: “This project will change
the lives of over 5,000 people in Kenya, half
of whom live below the poverty line and are
dependent on food aid. DFID funding will
help Bees Abroad give people the skills and
support they need to learn a trade which
can increase their independence.
The Bee Products Enterprise Development
(BPED) aims to raise incomes of 900
pastoral households through beekeeping
providing for improved production, value
addition, trade and profit sharing. It will
also increase opportunities for women and
marginalized members of society to engage
in sustainable economic activity and
increase control of their income.
Beekeeping is a potentially vital source of
income for these rural communities. As well
as teaching beekeeping skills, the project
will provide vital training in business and
marketing, to help rural communities run
successful enterprises. This is going to help
generations of families increase their
income and become self-sufficient. I hope
Bees Abroad can create a real buzz around
this
worthwhile
project.”
The hives are on the Lolldaiga Ranch. The photo
shows catcher boxes waiting for the migrating
bees during the flowering season.
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
The writers Blaise Okinyi, Mary and John Home
at National Beekeeping Station, Nairobi.
Page 10
The project will be implemented for Bees
Abroad by John and Mary Home, assisted
by David Evans. John and Mary already
act as volunteer project managers for
several of the charity's projects in Kenya. As
well as helping community groups improve
their beekeeping skills, they have been
responsible for teaching beekeepers how to
make value-added products such as hand
creams and wax polish.
Another innovation by John and Mary is
the 'A-maizing' bee suit which can be made
for less than £1 (Kshs. 140) by utilizing
waste maize sacks and the sound parts of
damaged mosquito nets. This application
was made possible with help and
encouragement from those in Bees Abroad
and much support from family and friends.
Support for the project also comes from
Bees
Abroad
patron
and
television
personality
Jimmy
Doherty.
He
commented: “This is a major achievement
for Bees Abroad, which is a small and
growing solid charity, with a core of very
experienced beekeepers who really care
about
helping
communities
in
the
developing world. It’s wonderful to think
that 900 households will be given
beekeeping skills that can be used straight
away and then handed on to future
generations. It’s sustainability at its best.”
Commercial and community-owned bee
product enterprises with a sound ethical,
environmental and business base create
new economic opportunities for pastoralist
men and women. This project will increase
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 11
economic returns from beekeeping and
provide economic incentives for the
sustainable use of indigenous natural
resources. Product branding and market
links will help communities to access
rewarding local, national and East African
regional markets.
Creating livelihood diversification will take
pressure off water and grazing available in
the wider Laikipia ecosystem, contributing
to
protection
of
natural
resources,
particularly in the water catchment areas.
An improved ecosystem will lead to wider
livelihood improvements such as reduced
tension and conflict between communities,
greater resilience to drought and greater
gender equity within households.
Bee products are culturally and socially
acceptable. Honey and wax are already sold
in the targeted areas, but at a low and
disorganised level. The project proposes to
expand existing knowledge and practices,
implementing business-based systems to
ensure economic viability.
Mr. John Home Teaching staff and farmers at National
Beekeeping Institute
Introducing
low-cost
beekeeping
equipment, often made from locally sourced
materials, enables producers to expand to
commercial levels. Community cohesion
will be supported by the democratic
decision-making and participation in the
enterprise, especially under fair trade
standards.
Better bee colony management also
increases the stability of local food supplies
through the bees' pollination activities.
Understanding the need to preserve natural
resources for honey production promotes
care for sustainable natural resources.
The development of the national organic
market will increase awareness among
consumers and the farming community of
environmental issues, helping to make the
value of Kenyan natural resources better
understood and appreciated.
The National Beekeeping Station has so far
done for them Training of Trainers for 6
trainees on aspects of modern beekeeping.
These TOTs will eventually help and guide
bee farmers in the project area on how to
practice modern beekeeping and value
addition in their farms.
The effects of climate
change on livestock
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 12
resources in the
rangelands (ASALs) of
Kenya
By Chadwin Reno Wafula. Sub County
Range Officer. Baringo Central
The Rangelands, often referred to as
the Arid and Semi- arid lands (ASALs)
cover about 80% of the Kenya’s total
land surface. Once referred to as
‘waste lands’, these dry areas are
becoming increasingly appreciated for
their flora and fauna. More
importantly, they support about 25%
of the total human population and
slightly more than 50% of the
livestock population which consists
largely of beef cattle, sheep, goats and
camels. A majority of the people who
live in the rangelands are pastoralists
although semi pastoral and farming
communities utilize the higher
rainfall areas. Most of the national
parks, game reserves and community
ranches are found in these areas as
well.
The fourth assessment report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) 2007 leaves no doubt
that the Earth’s climate is changing,
largely as a result of human activity.
The past 7 decades have been the
warmest and rainfall patterns are
changing, resulting in more frequent
and severe floods and droughts. The
impacts continue to be felt the world
over but more severely in the Kenyan
rangelands which face higher
temperatures and erratic rainfall. This
imbalance in the long term of
weather factors such as temperature,
wind and rainfall (climate change)
has had a great effect on the
livelihoods of the pastoral
communities and livestock resources.
Livestock graze on communal areas
making natural pasture the principal
source of livestock feed followed by
crop residues in areas where agropastoralism is practiced. Although, the
long term impacts of climate change
are difficult to predict and are bound
to vary over time and space, most
climate change models predict rising
temperatures and decreasing rainfall
in these areas.
Some of the effects attributed to climate
change include:
a) Cases of change in vegetation
types and density has been
noted in these areas where
invasive, poisonous and
unpalatable plant species
dominate. Woody species of both
native and exotic origin continue
to pose the greatest challenge to
livestock development. Livestock
migration to other areas as a
drought management strategy
by pastoralists increases
competition for resource use in
receiving lands and aggravates
the already vulnerable condition
there.
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 13
b) The erratic rainfall (with less
intensity and shorter duration)
increases water scarcity. To that
end, ponds and dams cannot fill
to their capacity and therefore
dry out fast as do boreholes,
while streams and rivers
disappear.
c) The erosion of livestock genetic
resources due to loss of rangeland
ecological integrity has been
observed. In response to frequent
droughts, emergency livestock off
take is often carried out in these
pastoral areas to mitigate the
effects.
d) The migration/importation of
animals from one area to
another, results in moving
genotypes across agro- ecological
zones causing unintended
genetic dilution due to cross
breeding. This can be seen in
the herd composition of
livestock with all shades of
color and decreasing body sizes.
The survival of the indigenous
cattle species is also threatened
due to competition for grazing.
Cattle(grazers) are in danger of
being replaced with camels and
goats(browsers) that are better
suited where bush
encroachment is heavy.
e) The emergence of new livestock
diseases is a major concern for
livestock development in the
rangelands. This is often linked
to increased susceptibility of
livestock aggravated by shortage
of feed and trans-boundary
livestock movements.
f) Land use and livelihood systems
changes. As temperatures
increase and rainfall variability
decreases, the niches for various
grassland and crop species
change. Transitions from pure
pastoralism to agro pastoralism
and in some cases complete
abandonment of pastoralism for
petty trade has been observed
in the ASAL areas
Maize Stover And Cobs
Fortification in
Livestock Feeding In
Tana River County
Hammer mill shredder demonstration
Livestock Office Tana River County
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 14
In light of the climate change effects
therefore, there is need to enhance
sustainable livestock production
systems, through improving pasture
lands and grazing management
developing appropriate legal,
institutional and regulatory
frameworks, improve disease control
and surveillances, promote sustainable
natural resources use and above all
recognizing that the livelihoods of
pastoralists and the rest of the Kenyan
people are intertwined as we transit to
an ever green economy.
Small scale farmers in Tana River
County, in addition to growing common
food crops such as maize and beans,
have recently began to grow fodder
during periods of drought. The County
is generally dry for most of the year and
these harsh conditions pose great
challenges for both agro and pastoral
communities.
In November 2010,
USAID-funded
Kenya
Drylands
Livestock
Development
Program
(KDL
DP),
in
conj
unct
ion
with
othe
r
strat
egic
part
Feed Fortification training
ners,
intro
duced to the local farmers and trading
groups the idea of growing irrigated
fodder in order to increase their
household income and food security.
Bura Biskidera, a livestock trading
group formed in 2009, was among the
first groups to be assisted by KDLDP.
Before then the 120 member groupmade up of 55 males and 65 femalessold charcoal in order to subsidize their
Chemical composition of 5 feed
ingredient samples
household
income
of
KES 40/day. After receiving KDLDP
training, the group members quickly
adopted fodder farming and in just 6
months, members had increased their
household income to KES 200/day.
Three years later, KDLDP introduced
feed fortification (the process of adding
nutrients, essential trace elements and
vitamins to feed) to groups supported by
the program. This is a significant step
towards producing commercial feed for
the market by utilizing locally available
materials. Additionally, this ensures
that high energy livestock feed will be
locally available during times of
drought.
The Bura Bisikidera group also
participated in the KDLDP-facilitated
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 15
feed fortification training. The group
received a hammer mill shredder which
grinds and shreds a variety of raw
materials including maize cobs, grains,
fodder grasses and other by-products
such as rice straw.
Prosopis Julifora, a highly invasive
weed, locally known as “mathenge”, has
taken over thousands of hectares in the
dry lands and has greatly reduced
available grazing area for livestock.
Samples of shredded prosopis shrub,
crushed maize stovers, crushed maize
cobs, crushed prosopis pods and
Prosopis “Mathenge” juice ( Jabesa
product) were delivered to KARI
Naivasha for chemical analysis and the
results (table inset) discussed with the
groups and other stakeholders.
From the sale of these fortified byproducts, members of Bura Biskidera
have once again increased their
household incomes to KES 500 /day.
“It’s amazing how much we have
learned in such a short period of time,”
said
Sadia
Gufu
Farah,
Bura
Biskidera’s Chairlady. “Who knew we
could improve our lives by growing and
selling grass. I have 6 children, all
going to school. It was extremely
difficult to divide my income between
school fees and household expenses;
but now I am comfortable because of
the activities we are doing. Now we are
better off than before.”
These results were to assist the group to
rate the value of feed resources they
possessed locally based on the chemical
composition. The results were also used
to come up with different rations.
However caution on inclusion rates was
stressed as more investigation into their
utilization of prosopis ration progressed.
As a result
of the
KDLDP feed
fortification training, the Bura Biskidera
group now grinds the “mathenge” plant,
mixing it with other fodder materials to
create a highly nutritious livestock
feed. Adding molasses and urea to the
feed mix and then compacting the
mixture into storable blocks creates
high-value
commercial
feed.
Improving
Value
Addition And Marketing
Of Milk For Smallholders
(VAMMS) In East African
Region Project
Project Team & Authors: S. N. Makokha
(KARI), M. Mwirigi (KARI), D. Yongo (DLP)
and D. Nyongesa (KARI)
Background
Increasing demand in improved milk
and milk products’ quality and safety
presents
many
opportunities
for
smallholders to improve the quality and
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 16
safety of these products and access
regional markets. Studies have shown a
high willingness to pay by consumers
for quality and safety. However, policy,
technical & institutional barriers limit
exploitation of these opportunities,
resulting in a small regional market
share of these products. The VAMMs
project seeks to facilitate the increase of
the regional market share of dairy
products
from
smallholders.
The
VAMMS project is an EAAPP project
implemented by KARI in collaboration
with the State department of livestock
and encompasses other stakeholders
including the Kenya Dairy Board and
Kenya bureau of standards among
others. It is a three year project.
The objectives of the project are to:
 Generate knowledge on dairy and
Focused Group Discussion with Farmers,
Agricultural staff and project team during group
selection in Meru
on improved value addition dairy
technologies in identified priority
areas
 Enhance capacity for staff &
stakeholders
 Disseminate
the
information
generated
The project is working in 2 sites in
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Kenya, Meru and Uasin Gishu counties
with dairy groups.
Groups Selection
To answer to these objectives the project
team developed tools and criteria for
groups selection.
Groups practicing the traditional
collection of raw milk and
marketing
Groups adding value to milk
before marketing
One vulnerable group that is
either practicing the traditional
collection of raw milk and selling
or adding value to milk before
marketing. The vulnerable group
should have potential for positive
impact through value addition
and marketing.
(A vulnerable group is one whose
membership includes women, youth,
female headed households
or
household
heads
living
with
HIV/AIDs.)
Have significant levels of milk
production or bulking
Be groups seeking to improve
value addition and marketing
Show
a
good
level
of
cohesiveness; the group should
have
stable
leadership
and
management,
have
regular
meetings
and
should
have
experienced
minimal
group
conflicts
By use of Focus group discussions
(FGD, out of 19 farmer groups from the
Page 17
two counties, six dairy farmers groups,
three from each county were selected as
follows:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Thuita Dairy Self Help Group
(S.H.G) – Meru South sub county,
Meru County
Muchege Hort/Mil Group – Imenti
South sub county, Meru County
Ciomburu Arithi S. H.G. – Imenti
North sub county, Meru County
Chepngoror Co-operative Society -
identify possible areas of intervention in
order to facilitate the take up of gender
responsive
innovations
in
dairy
agribusiness. The identified areas of
intervention were:
a) Milk Testing, Quality Control and
Processing
b) Packaging and Bar-coding
c) Rules, Regulations and Standards
Yogurt processing demonstration in Meru
Kapkawa group in Uasin gishu identified for study
v.
vi.
Eldoret East sub county, Uasin
Gishu County
Kapkawa Baitany S.H.G - Eldoret
West sub county, Uasin Gishu
County
Langas Disabled S.H.G – Wareng
sub county, Uasin Gishu County
Capacity
Building
A second
FGD was
conducte
d
with
the
six Milk testing demonstration in Uasi Gishu
groups to
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
d)
e)
f)
g)
for Milk and Milk products
Markets and Market Linkages
Dairy Record keeping and Proposal
Development
Business planning
Group Dynamics and Gender
After identification of possible areas of
intervention, Two training sessions were
conducted, one in Meru County
(Kaguru ATC) and the other in Uasin
Gishu (Eldoret town). A total of 61
farmers, 30 in Meru and 31 in Uasin
Gishu Counties were trained in the
areas identified. There were 36 men and
25 women. Each of the six farmer
groups consisted of three group officials
and seven members. At the end of the
training, each of the six groups held
Page 18
discussions and came up with action
plan to be implemented within 3-4
months after the training. At the end of
the training, farmers were given
brochures and awarded certificates of
participation.
A study of the reports from the two
FGDs
also
identified
the
dairy
Muchege HortMil Group display value added
milk products during EAAPP mini dairy
conference exhibition at Naivasha
which is already processing milk
products (Yoghurt and mala) and
packaging for market. Groups have also
developed business plans and improved
on record keeping.
Certificate of participation being presented to
participants
equipment to be bought for the farmer
groups to enhance value addition and
marketing
Master of Science Research Studies
The project is also facilitating research
studies for two Msc students on the
project. The study areas are factors
influencing farmers’ choice of dairy
value chains and gender issues in dairy
production,
value
addition
and
marketing respectively.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Monitoring
is
continuously
being
undertaken with the help of sub county
livestock production staff and the
project team. Upon completion of the
project activities and evaluation, the
project team will document and
disseminate
the
information
and
technologies generated for the wider
benefit of the region.
Success stories
Groups have started implementing their
action plans developed during the
trainings. Notable among these is the
Muchege Hort Mil group in Meru county
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 19
Young And Passionate
About Pig Farming;
Cynthia Story
By Livestock office Muranga County
“Having quit my job at a young age, I
was sure that farming was what I
wanted to do”. Says Cynthia. “Three
years ago I didn’t have knowledge in pig
farming, but driven by passion I started
the enterprise. I did a lot of research on
the internet and visited many pig
farmers; eventually I was convinced this
is what I wanted to do.”
in Muranga County where I sell an
average of 80 kg/day. My pig business
has created employment for 13
permanent workers and 2 casuals. At
the moment, I am trying to work on a
project dubbed “One Young Farmer
“I started the pig project on my
Cynthia’s piggery
One Piglet.”
Cynthia’s pig business in Muranga
“Although it takes knowledge to do
something, it takes passion to grow it.
It’s time the young generation stopped
whining on lack of jobs and pulled
strings to work with what they have at
hand. We should take farming as a
profession- and retire from farming and
not retire to farming. Whenever anyone
asks me what I do for a living, I
confidently say I am a farmer by
profession and hand out my business
card”. Cynthia advises
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 20
ancestral land since I did not have
enough cash to buy a piece of land of
my own and build structures. I started
with two sows in two structures and
now I have grown to more than 200
pigs in 20 structures. I wanted my
business to be sustainable; therefore i
started exploring value addition options.
I began with ‘chop cuts’, packed them
nicely and did home deliveries. From
that humble beginning, I am now
supplying ‘chop cuts’ to 3- five star
hotels in Nairobi and 4- beach hotels in
Mombasa. Later, I started a pork outlet
Quail production
By Julius Maithya Email:
[email protected]
Introduction
Quails have been a delicacy
since the days of the pharaoh.
Ancient history indicates that
quail meat have been priced for their
dietary and ‘healing properties’. Quail
breeding was promoted by ancient
Japanese Emperors who believed in its
meat value. The commercialization of quail
industry is relatively new in Kenya. The
meat is regarded as a delicacy due to the
low fat content and the eggs presumed to
have a medicinal value. The birds grow fast
and reach maturity within seven weeks. In
some cases, quails have been reported to
start laying at five weeks.
Production Systems
Quail
s are
reare
d
under
intens
ive
produ
ction
syste
ms;
Colony cages
deep
litter, colony cages or individual cages
(battery cage system). The house should
provide adequate lighting and ventilation.
Deep litter
Under the deep litter system, birds are kept
on open floors and provided with bedding
such as wood shavings- important for
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
moisture absorption. The litter should be
5cms deep (3kgs per square meter). The
beddings should be changed and turnedover regularly to avoid wet spots. Between
batches, the litter should be removed, the
house cleaned and disinfected. Allow a 2
weeks break before bringing in a new
batch of birds. Laying nests should also
be provided along the wall in the dark
sections in the house. The floor space
requirement for adult quails is 38 birds per
square meter.
Colony cages
Under this system, several quails are placed
in a cage with a wire floor. The cages can be
placed out in the open or housed in a quail
house for security purposes. Each cage
houses several males and females with a
male: female ratio ranging from1:1 to 1:4.
The average space requirement for an adult
quail is 10 cm2.
Feeding
After hatching, chicks are put in a brooder
Quail eggs
for 18 days being fed on chick and duck
mash. Growers mash is given after 18 days
until the first egg at around two months
after which layers mash is introduced.
Page 21
Birds can be supplemented with green
vegetables, grains and Omena. Clean
drinking water should be provided
adlibitum.
e) Quarantine new birds for at least
three weeks,
f) Establish foot baths in your
premises
g) Take care of the young stock first
and move upward to older birds last.
Disease Control
Marketing
While quails have a certain degree of
resistance to diseases, they are prone to
diseases that affect poultry. It is therefore
important to be on the lookout for
respiratory distress, fever and diarrhea
conditions. These conditions will require
the intervention of a veterinarian or an
animal production expert. Proper hygiene
and management should be observed to
prevent diseases occurrences. A good
disease control programme emphasizes on
the following areas:
It is important to identify the market for
your products before starting to raise quails
commercially. Products include: meat, eggs,
feathers and manure. Depending on the
product, possible market outlets include:
a) Reduction of exposure to disease
through proper stress management
and proper sanitation
b) Isolating sick birds from the rest of
the flock
c) Removing and disposing dead birds
d) Treating disease outbreaks with the
recommended drugs
e) Proper use of disinfections and
sanitizers to control spread of
diseases.
To reduce the severity of disease outbreaks,
the following practices are recommended:
a) Keep water trough clean or use
nipple waterers.
b) Do not let visitors into the birdproducing areas.
c) Clean and disinfect all equipments.
d) Do not bring any new birds into the
premises.
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Product
Possible outlet
1 Meat
Tourist hotels, local hotels
serving traditional dishes,
major supermarkets,
butcheries and neighbours
2 Eggs
Tourist hotels, local hotels
serving traditional dishes,
major supermarkets,
butcheries and neighbours,
bakers, hospitals and boiled
egg hawkers
3 Manure
Farmers, ornamental garden
growers, tree nursery
operators, gardeners
4 Feathers
Upholstery shops, Fish baits
manufacturers, Garment
industry
Note: Quail eggs expire within four to six
weeks
Page 22
Social Inclusion in
Agriculture Income
Generation Through
Farming by Persons
Having Special Needs
By Jecinta Mwirigi and Mwangi Gioche
(MoALF)
When referring to persons with special
needs, it may not necessarily mean that
the person has disability but that the
person deviates from the normal either
positively or negatively. In her speech
during the 2013 UN-day for
the
disabled at Ol Kalou, the Educational
Assessment and Resource Center
Officer for the area listed people with
special needs to include Physically
handicapped, visually impaired, hearing
impairment, emotional and behavioral
disorders, autism, cerebral palsy,
communication
difficulties, deaf/
blindness,
mental
challenges/impairments,
learning
difficulties, gifted and talented, street
children or those living especially in
difficulty
circumstances,
dwarfism,
albinism and so on.
According to W.H.O, approximately 10%
of the population has disabilities and
according to its report of 1999, out of
such population in Kenya; 1% had
visual impairment; 3% had mental
disability; 3 were gifted and talented
(mostly in schools if these pupils are not
recognized and their talents developed,
they end up not being very useful in the
society); 30% had special learning
difficulties; 1% had autism and 1% had
hearing impairments.
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
The above scenario might not be very
different today, what with road
accidents becoming the order of the
day, the ethnic crashes, Westgate,
landmines, cattle rustling, malnutrition,
substance
abuse,
environmental
damage
and
most
recently
the
devastating HIV/AIDS. Considering this
list of calamities, everyone is then a
possible candidate for disability.
Nobody understands the perils of people
with
special
needs
more
than
themselves and their families. These
people are in many cases still the
poorest of the poor. All too often they
are destined to endure a life of poverty
and are excluded by society and their
own families from actively contributing
to their communities’ wellbeing with
detrimental impact on the food security
situation and their own morale and
dignity. Hunger and insufficient food
also creates or helps conditions
affecting
physical
and
mental
development a perpetuating issue.
In many developing countries, persons
with disabilities are rarely represented
in national and local bodies, such as
Parliaments, Councils, Political Parties
and
mainstream
Civil
Society
organizations. Further, their issues are
seldom explicitly taken into account in
the national and local government
budgets. In many cases, laws protecting
these people are either completely
absent or not enforced, meaning that
the human rights of people with
disabilities are often neglected and
overlooked. This general neglect causes
these people to be often not included
and their specific needs ignored in
agricultural development programmes
and policies.
Page 23
Living with a disability, therefore, in a
country such as ours where the
majority of people rely on agriculture for
a living can have a profound impact on
both income potential and nutrition.
Helping people to help themselves is the
basis for empowering persons with
disabilities and the motto should be
“putting ability before disability”. This
act should also be informed by the fact
that disability cuts across the board,
from the poor to the rich and that it
does not belong to a certain category of
people. Further, if assisted, these people
do not have to remain as beggars in the
streets or forever be a liability to their
relatives and communities. These
people should be given a voice and their
presence in the community should be to
be heard and not just to be seen.
In order to raise awareness about
disabilities, the next decade (20132022) has been declared by the UN as
the 'Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons
with Disabilities'. The theme for year
2013 is “Breaking Barriers and Opening
Doors for an Inclusive Society for All”.
Further, In 1995, heads of State and
government at the World Social Summit
in
Copenhagen
affirmed
their
commitment to promoting the Standard
Rules on Equalization of Opportunities
for Persons with Disabilities and to
developing
strategies
for
their
implementation. The Programme of
Action adopted by the Conference called
on "Governments”, in collaboration with
organizations of people with disabilities
and the private sector, to work towards
the equalization of opportunities so that
people with disabilities can contribute
to and benefit from full participation in
society. Policies concerning people with
disabilities should focus on their
abilities rather than their disabilities
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
and should ensure their dignity as
citizens."
The World Food Summit of 1996 noted
that poverty was the main cause of food
insecurity. The vast majority of those
who
are
undernourished
cannot
produce or afford to buy enough food.
Undernourishment has led to more
disabilities
and
poverty.
Further,
disabled farmers had inadequate access
to means of production such as land,
water, inputs and improved seeds,
appropriate technologies and farm
credit. The Summit also acknowledged
the fundamental contribution to food
security by disabled farmers, noting
that a large proportion of the disabled
people were farmers with responsibility
for
the
food
security
of
their
households.
Numerous successful projects have
shown that people with disabilities are
able to participate in
meaningful agricultural activities. Some
go as far as suggesting that people with
disabilities are the world’s untapped
resource and that their inclusion is of
paramount importance for global food
security.
While different programmes employed
different
approaches,
almost
all
identified the lack of
opportunities and resources as one of
the main constraints for people with
disabilities to live a
productive and dignified life. In order to
improve on this, programmes should
aim at giving them access to training
and inputs and governments could
consider giving disabled people priority
in agriculture grants. Of course the
nature of peoples’ disabilities is very
different and training needs should be
Page 24
assessed and adjusted accordingly. In
general, however, when working with
people
with
disabilities
FAO
recommends that one should keep the
following in mind: Type of disability;
Negative cultural practices; Attitude;
Education; Supportive environment;
Peer support.
In the end, it is important to realize that
no programmes or policy developments
will be successful if they do not involve
people with disabilities themselves. Not
until institutions, the state and the
society at large appreciate that everyone
can
actually
contribute
to
the
improvement of food security in our
communities and by not involving them
more and more, they will still continue
hanging on the thin line of poverty.
Despite the goodwill to assist people
living with disability to participate in
agricultural practices, there are those
who are "Severely disabled"
these
include above knee and double
amputees, blind people, people with
hemiplegia, paraplegia, quadriplegia,
Hansen's disease and other conditions
which restrict a person's ability to
function in normal roles. Such cases
should be considered for cash transfer
programmes without considering their
age or the status of their families.
are minimal and anybody who can able
to move about even if in aided condition
can be able to run the business.
Finally when assisting people with
special needs, it is wise to work in
collaboration
with
like
minded
organization such as FAO.
This
organization offers unique expertise in
specific technical areas: agriculture,
forestry, fisheries, management of
natural resources, sustainable rural
development,
emergency
and
rehabilitation assistance, etc. Further it
offers policy advice on how to effectively
address disability matters in food and
agriculture interventions among other
forms of support.
Jecinta Mwirigi at [email protected] or
0722274080
Harry G. Mwangi
[email protected] 0722664710
For those who are able to participate in
agriculture,
handicapped
friendly
enterprises such as indigenous chicken
rearing and fish farming should be
promoted and supported among the
handicapped by each of the agriculture
sector department. This is because
setting up and sustaining the first
enterprise requires minimal investment
and although the second venture costs
a lot to set up, maintenance activities
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 25
Food Security Lessons
From India
has been a lot of attention and
investment from the government as well
as public private partnership in various
By David T Yongo-Value Addition and
areas of agriculture including ICT in
Agribusiness Division, Hill Plaza
agricultural information. Prior to the
green revolution, India faced various
The main socio-economic factors that
challenges in food production. These
drive increasing food demand are
included
limited
investment
in
population
growth,
increasing
agriculture, poor soil fertility, poor
urbanization and rising incomes. There
infrastructure leading to high operating
is
little
uncertainty
about
the
costs, poor access to credit, pests and
magnitude, nature and regional pattern
diseases,
low
farm
incomes,
of the future development of population
disorganized markets and limited
growth and urbanization. India with a
market power of producers among
population of approximately 1.21 Billion
others. India has aggressively addressed
people to feed is relatively food secure
these mainly through reforms including,
as compared to Kenya.
biotech
Independent
India
nology
inherited
a
stagnant
and
agriculture which was in
ICT
the grip of a food crisis in
revolut
the mid-'60s and was
ion
dependent on imports.
and
The situation is different
heavy
now. India does not
invest
import staple grains which
ment
include rice, millet, wheat
in the
and maize. It is the world
sector.
largest
producer
and
Kenya,
consumer of milk mainly
still
from buffaloes and cattle.
experie
However it still imports
nces
pulses.
But what has
these
Buffalo used for milk Production
India done to minimize
challen
import of food and ensure
ges
its huge population is fed ?
and can borrow some lessons.
Agriculture is a state subject in India
and the Governments top priority has
therefore been towards increasing
production of food grain. As such there
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Some of the measures which have been
taken to address food security include
but not limited to:
Page 26
Improved
extension
services
through use of ICT notably setting
up of a farmers call centre “KISAN
and inputs and advisory. This has
led to improved output and
efficiency in agriculture.
 Government intervenes into the
markets to stabilize food prices
and in the public distribution
programmes. This they do
through the food corporation of
india (FCI), the equivalent of
NCPB. FCI was set up with the
aim at attaining food selfsufficiency by
Farmers accessing agricultural information on computers
(ICT)
(Indian for farmer) call centre”.
The call centre was established to
provide easy access point to
farmers, all over the country and
in their local languages. Farmers
can call up and enquire about the
various queries/ problems related
to the Crops , Animal husbandry,
Veterinary,
Seeds,
Fertilizers,
Agriculture Commodity Prices,
Pesticides, Horticulture, , etc. free
of cost. The objective of the
scheme has been to make
agriculture knowledge available at
free of cost to the farmers as and
when desired. This is through a
public private partnership.
As the rural penetration of mobile
devices is on increase, mobile
devices
provide
an
effective
channel for dissemination of
market prices, agri-specific news
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
◦
making basic food grains
available to all its citizens
at an affordable price.
◦
Providing
farmers
remunerative prices
◦
To maintain buffer stocks
as measure of Food
Farmer using subsidized fertilizer on Paddy field
Security
◦
To intervene in market for
price stabilization
Page 27
Food cards are given to
citizens
living
below
the
poverty line from which they
get food from selected shops in
the country.
Several regulations are also
implemented to protect the
interest of the farmers/producers
and the consumers including
price subsidies for essential food
commodities as well as organizing
controlled markets through the
Agriculture Produce Marketing
Committee. The government also
provides Domestic Subsidies for
inputs like veterinary drugs, A.I
services and fertilizers.
To promote credit access to
farmers,
India
formed
the
National bank for agriculture and
rural development (NABARD). It
promotes
sustainable
and
equitable agriculture and rural
prosperity through effective credit
support,
related
services,
institution
development
and
other innovative initiatives. It
provides
unsecured
credit.
Commercial banks are obligated
by law to lend 18% of their loans
to agriculture failure to which
they surrender the amount to
NABARD to loan to farmers
The Indian government is also
ensuring that every citizen is
guaranteed 100 working days
through
Mahatma
Gandhi
National
Rural
Employment
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for
enhancement
of
livelihood
security of the households in
rural areas.
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Last but not least, research and
technology dissemination is a key driver
of agricultural production. There are
direct linkages between universities and
farmers when disseminating research
technologies. The universities and other
agricultural research are also
coordinated to avoid duplication
through the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR) . This is
an autonomous organization under the
Department of Agricultural Research
and Education in the Ministry of
Agriculture in India. The Council is the
apex body for coordinating, guiding and
managing research and education in
agriculture including horticulture,
fisheries and animal sciences in the
country.
These measures and others have
gener
ally
led to
availa
bility,
acces
s and
afford
ality
of
food
to the
Buffaloes herd on tether
citize
ns of
India. It can thus be concluded that
there’s need for Kenya to strengthen
efforts towards improving food security
through public-private partnership
investments in irrigation,
infrastructure, research, and precision
use of at appropriate food production
technologies. For short-term
productivity growth improved extension
Page 28
and communication can improve farm
management practices.
Macalder Sheep and
Goats Station
Success Story
By Station Officer in charge
SHEEP AND GOAT REARING IN
NYATIKE; INCOME GENERATING
PROGRAMME
income generating activity (IGA) in this
relatively marginal area due to its
profitability.
INTERVENTIONS AND PROCESS
INITIATED
Mr. Phares Owuor is a farmer who is
neighboring the farm and has applied
through the board of management of the
farm to get the ram/buck service assistance
from the farm so as to improve his local
breeds
of
sheep
and
goats
and
consequently to start an IGA. He did specify
in his application that he is very much
enthusiastic to start Galla goat and dorper
sheep rearing. The board of management of
the station accepted his proposal and
selected him for the ram/buck service as a
pilot program of small stock upgrading. Mr.
The deliberate efforts of Macalder sheep
and goats station to encourage income
generation
programs
in
neighboring
farming community through the station
ram/buck service program has been given
special attention and this initiative has
created a big leap in the economic situation
of the neighboring farming community. This
initiative also
helped
to
create
job
opportunities
to
the
beneficiary
(the
youths
and
the
Migori County Executive Committee Member of Agriculture Mr.
Moses Chamwada in a local market (Wath Ong’er Market in
vulnerable)
Nyatike Sub-County(at the center and pocketing) and the
that can get
locals admiring the upgraded goats of Mr. Phares
Phares is holding 10
the ram/buck
acres of land and has to
service
from
support 5 kids and wife.
the station at
Their house was in a
a price lower
dilapidated
condition
than
the The Governor of Migori County, H.H Okoth Obado (on the
and they depend mostly
extreme left and partly covered), the Governor of Kisumu
prevailing
on
wage
labor
for
County, H.H Jack Ranguma, Migori County Director of
market price Agriculture, Migori County Director of Livestock Production
livelihood. Due to this
of
artificial and the OiC of Macalder sheep and goats station admiring
poor
economic
some of the animals used for upgrading at the Macalder
insemination.
sheep and goats station stand during the October, 2013
background
of
Mr.
Both
sheep Migori ASK Show.
Phares,
the
board
and
goat
selected him for the small stock upgrading
rearing has become one of the important
program in the year 2012.
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 29
At present the upgraded sheep are taken
care of by Mrs. Dorina (Phares’ wife). She is
providing enough care to the sheep by way
of supplying feeds. When she took back her
female sheep from the farm in December,
2012, they were all in-lamb (pregnant) and
after 2 months i.e in February, 2013, the
10 female sheep gave birth to 10 upgraded
lambs while the 8 goats gave birth to 8
kids. The sheep and goats are providing
compost manure sufficient for their kitchen
garden. Mr. and Mrs. Phares are active
members of the local self help group (SHG)
in the village and they save Ksh. 500 every
month (as from the month June, 2013). The
children are attending schools (Macalder
Primary School) regularly and they also
support their mother to look after the sheep
and goats.
upgrading program via ram/buck service in
the farm.
The family is living happily as they have
better
income
from sale of the
upgraded
animals.
Mr.
Phares is going
for wage labor
which he gets 20
days a month. It
is found through
analysis that the
family earns an
average of Ksh. Mr. Phares (in white shirt) and OiC-Macalder shoats with the upgraded
30,000 from the goats
sheep
rearing
unit and Ksh. 20,000 from the goat rearing
By Regina W. Ciira
unit after every 6 months. The neighbors
and the local SHG members appreciate Mr.
Hydroponics in the livestock sector?
Phares and family for running this
Yes, being practiced in Kikuyu district,
successful IGA which is replicable model for
where
farmers are growing barley
others. They thank Macalder sheep and
hydroponically for fodder. The fodder is
goats station for the generous support and
being fed to dairy cow, pigs and poultry.
extension provided through the small stock
Hydro
phonic
s;Kiku
yu
District New Adoption
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 30
Hydroponic is an old technique which has
been investigated for many years but has
had resurgence in use throughout the
world as water and land shortages become
more prevalent.
Benefits of hydroponically grown barley.
When barley is sprouted it releases
vitamins and mineral (vitamins and
minerals saturation) – see the table
below.
Hard proteins to digest are converted
into easily digested proteins.
Water conservation as compared to
when grown in the fields.
Reduction in overall daily feed costs.
Sprouted barley seeds from the
germination chamber.
1kg of dairy meal costs Kshs26/kg
while to produce 1kg of this fodder
costs Kshs6/kg.
Reduced feed wastage: the entire root
system is consumed by the livestock.
High yield in a very small area. 1m2
of tray produces 18kg of fodder in 7
days.
Increased omega 3, amino acids and
natural hormones.
Critical issues to consider
1. Mould and fungi can be a problem.
This problem can be reduced by
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
washing the grains with 1% bleach
solution prior to the initial soaking.
I.e. pre sterilise the seeds.
2. Seed quality can be a major factor in
the overall success and quality of
fodder produced. The seeds should
be stored away from moisture and
pests.
Determining the quality of seeds.
The seeds should not be dump.
Seeds should not be shriveled
Seeds must be free from weevil
infestation.
Establishing the fodder.
Select good seeds, wash and rinse in 1%
bleach solution. Planting rate should be 2.5
Kgs per M2which will produce 18Kg of
fodder at harvest.
N/B120 M2 will produce fodder for 100
dairy animals.
Soak the rinsed seeds in a germination
chamber and water using clean water
suitable for human consumption three
times a day.
Germination chamber: This is a container
with holes. The seeds are placed in the
container and watered without submerging
them in the water. The container is then
covered – to give a dark chamber. The seeds
will be watered for two days before
transferring to the trays.
Page 31
After two days the seeds
are spread on the trays
while observing care not
to contaminate the
germinating seeds. Use
sterile gloves and a
plastic rod to spread the
seeds on the trays.
Wooden rod is
discouraged as it can be
harbouring fungi.
Sprouted barley at 7 days ready for harvesting.
Continue watering three
times per day using
clean water with a weak fertiliser (readily
available at GP Agrovet in Wangige –
Kikuyu District). The fodder is ready for
harvesting after seven days.
Table 1: Nutritional content for hydroponically grown barley.
Parameter
(green fodder).
Before sprouting (barley grain)
Dry matter %
Ash
2.81
Crude protein
Water soluble carbohydrate
Non fibre carbohydrate
Macro nutrient %
Ca
0.26
P
0.42
K
0.39
Mg
0.17
Micro nutrient mg/Kg
Fe
96.1
Mn
25.2
Zn
17.5
Cu
8.0
91.4
3.72
11.73
3.76
64.65
Feeding your livestock with the sprouted
barley.
Amount fed to the animal should not
exceed 3.5 % of the animal live weight. Ideal
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
After sprouting at 7 days
14.35
13.68
6.26
45.76
0.39
0.44
0.29
0.26
147
17.5
22.4
7.80
amount should be 2% of the live weight of
the animal. For animals on concentrates,
replace 1 Kg of concentrate with 1.125 Kg
of sprouted barley (8 Kg of concentrate with
9kg of sprouted barley).
Page 32
However, due to the low crude protein
(13.68%) – a source of protein need to be
added to the feed to raise the level to at
least 16% for a dairy cow. A farmer would
incorporate a leguminous feed in the
basal diet e.g. lucerne, desmodium,
calliandra.
Experiences of farmers using the
technology:
“I have replaced the concentrate usage on
my poultry and dairy cattle with the
hydroponically grown barley fodder” says
Godana, a farmer in Rukubi area of
Kikuyu district. He adds “My poultry have
not reduced in weight on the contrary I
see slight increase in weight”. Commenting
on his dairy cow “Since I started feeding my
dairy cows with this fodder the milk has
increased by 1lt/day though not feeding on
any concentrates”. He continues “my other
cow is due in 2 months, I’m using this
fodder to steam it up. This will be my
experimenting animal to know the fodder’s
full benefits”.
Godana’s growing trays with fodder ready for
harvesting. At the left corner, his germinating chamber.
Prepared by:
Regina W. Ciira
For, DLPO – Kikuyu District
Cost Reduction:
In these harsh economics times, farmers need
to maximise their cost reduction mechanism to
ensure high profit margins for their livestock
enterprises.
The hydroponically grown barley provides one of
these mechanisms: 8kgs of the fodder is to be
substituted for 9kgs of dairy meal in case of
dairy cows. This translates to KShs143 saving
/cow/day on dairy meal alone.
It is a technology to give a serious thought on.
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 33
A smart farmer in
Githuguri sub-county
plastic tank, feed store and power
By Livestock Production office,
discovering the hidden treasure behind
Githunguri Sub County
their humbleness.
When you first meet Mrs. Mburu
driven chuff-cutter, before finally
The Wanjatha’s are full time dairy
outside her farm, you may hardly
guess her business powers and
instead mistake her for the
economically low-end citizen. Her
flamboyant demeanor, humour,
attractive personality blended with a
bright face and sharp eyes easily
provokes a suspecting stranger into a
chat.
On visiting her farm , you are received
Mr. Mburu with his dairy herd
by a light skinned, medium sized lady
farmers on their ¾ acre plot which is
in her late forties, clad in farm attire.
located about 2km west of Githunguri
Wanjathas, as she is commonly known,
town. They have 2 mature sons and a
her voice intoned with laughter,
college going daughter. The couple
introduces a man with the same
acquired their first heifer in 1992 and
complexion as hers Mr. Mburu Njatha,
reared it in the local way. It was not
as the husband. “No, I am just a charge
until 1998 after attending several
hand in this farm” he retorts jokingly,
extension trainings conducted by
sending everyone into laughter.
livestock production officers from the
As we snaked our way to the farm,
department of
behind the family house, the eyes were
livestock production that the
treated into a scenic desmodium
Wanjatha’s settled on dairy farming as a
demonstration plot, a well plastered
business, where all family members
bore hole that empties into a raised
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 34
participate fully in the management of
calves is tomorrow’s herd. Currently the
the animals.
average production is 22 kg/ cow /day.
Breeding
The Wanjathas started by upgrading
Fodder
two
Due to small land size, the
heife
Wanjathas’ rely heavily on
rs
purchased fodder such as Napier
and
and hay. They also purchase
a
concentrates and industrial by-
milki
products. To bridge protein gap
ng
the couple adopted Napier
cow
grass/desmodium intercrop
usin
technology disseminated by
g
artifi
Mr. Mburu attending his Desmodium plot
scientists from Kenya
Agricultural Research Institute
cial insemination (AI) of imported semen
(KARI) – Naivasha and has a
in 1998 and to-date they own a herd of
demonstration plot of desmodium in
18 ( including calves) animals all
their farm.
ranging from appendix to pedigree. The
animals are also registered with the
Extension work
Kenya Stud Book. Their cows are able
The Wanjathas’ compound streams with
to calf down every year. “Today’s calf is
groups of farmers both from within and
tomorrow’s cow” a slogan the Wanjathas
outside the County, as well as students
obey religiously. The couple prides
for on-farm briefs on dairy farming.
themselves with very low calf mortality
“You don’t have to change your stock,
rate in their farm due to good calf
just manage it well.” Mrs. Mburu urges
rearing practices. “How much do you
farmers. “Why do you put earrings on
sell a calf” an officer asked. Mr. Mburu
their ears?.
points to the mature herd saying “I only
sell these ones but not the calf since
Heifers registered with KSB hence
ear tagged.
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 35
“Heifer registered with Kenya Stud
Achievements
Book” “This is a common question
The Wanjathas story is not complete
without mentioning their achievements.
“I started by constructing the standard
zero grazing unit, complete with calf
pens. I wanted to improve the
conditions of the animals so as to get
more milk” said Mrs. Mburu.
She recounts her ordeal in chopping
asked by my students”. Some media
stations cover some of her training
sessions to be aired on radio
programmes. She has good mastery in
calf rearing, housing, feeding, feed
management, breeding and clean milk
production. She keeps a breast with
new technologies and emerging
livestock issues since she works closely
with the Department of livestock
production, research stations (KARI,
ILRI) Githunguri dairy farmers cooperative society, agro companies
(Coopers) and feed manufacturers. She
is a member and co-coordinator of
Thakwa High Breeders Self Help Group
which link farmers to extension
providers, researchers and other
stakeholders.
Napier grass with a panga before buying
a powered chuff-cutter in 2002. They
were also able to install electricity in
their farm. From the sale of milk and
old herd, the Wanjathas were able to dig
a borehole and store water in a huge
plastic tank for farm use. ‘’These young
men and their sister have been
educated up to higher institutions of
learning by these animals’’ Mr. Mburu
says as he points to the herd. Looking
at the enthusiasm by which the sons
attend to the animals, one may mistake
them for hired charge hands. They
know too well that they got their
education through the earnings from
the herd. Every family member gets a
monthly stipend, something that has
promoted teamwork and cohesion in the
family. The importance of training other
farmers and students cannot be over
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 36
emphasized since she does it as a
incidences. Their worst fear is the
business.
fluctuating and high cost of feeds.
Future Plans
The benefits of laptop in
schools
Mr. Mburu narrates how he envied a
dairy farm he once visited in Nakuru
where he saw a large stock undergoing
machine milking. “My farm will not be
By Orare Ondieki
Overview
complete without the same” he remised.
‘’Now that we are almost through with
the children’s education, we intend to
put up a permanent house, isn’t so my
dear?’’ Mr. Mburu asks the wife who
bursts into laughter. ‘’This one has
always nagged me to put up a biogas
Laptop computers are becoming
increasingly prevalent in the
institutions of higher learning in our
country. Some schools have laptop
programs where students are required
to use them for educational purposes.
While laptops may present
opportunities for distraction, utilizing
portable computers in classrooms can
unit’’, Mrs. Mburu says as she points to
the direction of the District Livestock
Production Officer (DLPO). He also
focuses on being the best breeder in the
region to improve on both the quality
and quantity of milk produced.
Challenges
Like most farmers, the Wanjathas’ have
occasionally contended with diseases
such as mastitis. He acknowledges that
routine hygienic practices, standard
shelter, proper preventive Medicare and
adequate feeding largely reduce disease
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
yield several significant benefits.
Computer skills are becoming a
fundamental part of education.
Students learn to type efficiently and
use basic computer functions such as
word processing, email and web
browsing. Such students have a
significant advantage over those without
knowledge on computers. Allowing
laptops in the classroom exposes
learners to experiential computer skills.
Page 37
Students are able to type notes much
faster and accurately than writing by
hand.
Computers encourage research and
creativity and students find fun while
using them. They also enhance
interactivity between students, teachers
and subject matter. Using laptops in
classroom, help students be organized
as such school work cannot be
misplaced easily. Assignments can also
be digitally distributed and students are
able to edit or change work in a soft
form. Teachers are able give feedback in
the same platform hence avoid physical
paper work. Additionally, typewritten
assignments are much easier to read
than hand written
Smallholder Dairy
Commercialization
Project; A Case Of Sot
Dairy Company Limited
in Bomet
Commercialization
Project
(SDCP)
mobilized the group and membership
increased to 200. After careful and
objective
capacity
and
needs
assessments of these farmers, SDCP
interventions
collectively
targeted
poverty alleviation through farmer
empowerment in the dairy enterprise.
Back then, milk production levels were
as low as 3litres per animal per day,
due to poor feeding and feeding regimes
of the animals. Daily pooled collections
of milk from members were averaging
200 litres.
Initially the groups were not cohesive
and had limited group leadership
capacities. Informal hawking of fresh
milk and poor marketing channels also
constituted other challenges that these
farmers faced. Basic animal healthcare
By Livestock office Bomet County
Sot Dairy Company Limited traces its
history from a group of 65 handicapped
women from Kembu area of Bomet
Central ward. They were ordinary
farmers who mobilized themselves to
actively practice commercial dairy
farming in 2005. They were initially
assisted by Heifer International with
artificial insemination technologies for
dairy animal breeding programmes.
Later in 2007, Small holder Dairy
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Farmers delivering milk to Sot Dairy Company
Limited
was also wanting mainly due to low
skills level among the farmers. The
farmers milk was also of poor quality.
SDCP Interventions
Page 38
SDCP rolled out farmer oriented
capacity building interventions that
involved 15 dairy groups in in Kembu
area and its environs. According to the
Chairman of the Sot Dairy, Mr Kirui,
the most valuable areas of trainings and
empowerment that SDCP befitted
members of the dairy include fodder
production, dairy animal health and
nutrition, clean milk production, milk
products
marketing
and
group
leadership. Since then in a span of two
years, the total milk collection rose from
200-13,000 litres per day at peak
periods. This was as result of uptake of
fodder production technologies by
farmers who benefited from the SDCP
interventions.
dairy manager, Mr. David Bett, the
plant pays up to 6million shilling per
month to farmers in peak period as
revenue from the sales of their milk.
This has changed from less than half a
million shilling obtained over the same
period when the cooler first opened its
doors in 2005. The animal health
capacity
building
trainings
and
subsidies provided by SDCP has also
helped members of the Sot dairy to
boost the breeding programmes for the
farmers. The management also runs an
agro vet for the farmers and offers
extension services in collaboration with
East
Africa
Dairy
Development
Programme (EADDP), amongst other
stakeholders.
The Chairman acknowledges that there
has
been
unprecedented
positive
attitude
change
towards
co
mm
erci
aliz
ing
dair
y
far
min
g in
the
Milk quality control at the dairy plant
are
a.
He says that dairy groups being trained
by SDCP whose members continue to
bring milk to the cooler have managed
to improve production to 7-10 litres of
milk per cow/day. According to the Sot
The milk quality has also improved.
According to the Sot quality control
officer, Ms Carolyne, members have
continued to improve on the quality of
milk that they deliver to the plant over
time. She attributes this to the
interventions of the SDCP capacity
building on clean milk production. Sot
dairy has provided 10 direct jobs in the
plant and about 30 indirect jobs who
include transporters, not to mention the
hundreds of farmers that have now
taken up dairy farming as their main
economic mainstay.
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Members have found it easier to pay
school fees. It is estimated that over
Ksh.2 million from the milk proceeds
every month goes towards payment of
fees. Kaparuso shopping centre has
sprung up mainly due
Page 39
to the development of Sot dairy, and
can be seen increasingly busy during
payment periods at the plant. Motor
cycle taxis are also a common means of
transport in the area with some farmers
engaging them to transport milk. This
has also created more jobs to the
youths in the area. Weather roads also
get improved in order to ease
transportation of milk to the plant. A
significant number of members of the
dairy plant have been able to afford
medical insurance through NHIF, a
thing which did not exist in the past.
Gender economic empowerment has
also received a boost especially for the
women as many of them are directly
involved in dairy business. The
development of Sot Dairy has also
provided an opportunity for learning
exchange visits both for farmers and
learning
institutions.
The
Sot
experience has accorded the SDCP
programme the opportunity to refine its
engagement process with collaborating
organizations especially the EADDP ,
which has been a partner in the
development of the Sot Dairy Company
Limited.
prices, occasional payment delays by
processors, high cost of feeds for
farmers and occasionally lack of
capacity to handle excess milk.
Adequate market is also a problem
especially during peak periods.
Way forward
Sot management is keen to expand its
facilities in order to venture into value
addition, improve farmer incentives like
agro vet services in addition to
strengthening credit and livestock
extension facilities.
Njaa Marufuku Kenya
(NMK)
A
Poverty
Eradication Programme
In the Ministry
By Kithama Jeremiah
Challenges
The vision of the Livestock Production
Department is to be globally competitive
in the delivery of efficient and effective
livestock production services having the
mission of improving the livelihoods of
the Kenyans and ensuring food security
by innovative, commercially oriented
livestock farming through creation of an
enabling environment, provision of
support
services
and
ensuring
sustainable
natural
resources
management.
Like many other players in the dairy
industry, the major challenges affecting
Sot Dairy include fluctuating milk
In Kenya , livestock production faces
numerous and diverse challenges in
ensuring
that
livestock
keeping
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 40
communities are able to not only
produce for their consumption but also
produce surplus for the market to
breach for other household income
needs. These challenges are not
confined to among others:
Erratic
and
unpredictable
weather conditions which impact
on livestock productivity
Poor access to livestock and
livestock products markets
Livestock
disease
and
pest
challenges
The
increasing
human
population
that
exerts
pressure
on
natural
pastureland
Prohibitive input prices i.e.
A.I, vaccines and high costs
of
commercial
feeds
attributed to VAT bill
Conflicts over dwindling
natural resources
Inadequate
access
to
finance for production
In order to confront some of the above
mentioned challenges, the government
formulates both short and long term
mitigation measures to ensure that the
livestock industry continues to thrive
despite the mentioned predicaments.
To guarantee sustainability in the
sector, and support the poor and
vulnerable
livestock
keepers,
the
government formulated policies in line
with Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) to articulate some of the
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
responses and pull the vulnerable out of
abject poverty and hunger.
One of the projects formulated in line
with the MDG1 in the Agriculture sector
is Njaa Marufuku Kenya (NMK). The
department of livestock production
implements the programme through
the division of Food Security.
Origin of the Njaa Marufuku Kenya
(NMK) project
The project was developed from the
Kenya Special Programme for Food
Security (FAO) to upscale food security
initiatives and was formulated within
the context of MDG-1 and the Strategy
for Revitalizing Agriculture (SRA) by the
Agricultural Sector Ministries with
support from FAO and the MDG center
with a strategic framework for a 10-year
action plan (2005-2015) for poverty and
hunger reduction in Kenya.
Overall goal of the project
To contribute to reduction of poverty,
hunger and food insecurity among the
poor and vulnerable communities in
Kenya.
Page 41
Project components
The projects key components which
have benefitted the livestock Production
Department include:
i ) Support to Community Driven Food
Security Improvement Initiatives –this
component
aims
to
empower
commu
nity
groups
throug
h
capacit
y
buildin
g and
provisio
n
of
small
grants
for up Beehive arrangement inside Bee house
calling
agricult
ural activities that focus on the hunger,
hunger
reduction
and
income
generation.
ii) Support to Private Sector Food
Security Innovations- this component
aims to encourage sector participation
in poverty and hunger reduction
initiatives
Implementation Strategy
The project is implemented through a
competitive cash-grant approach to
vulnerable community groups with an
aim
to
jumpstart
agricultural
production activities of the poor &
vulnerable.
The
beneficiaries
are
empowered through capacity building
and a cash grant.
Project Achievements
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Various enterprises have been funded
since the inception of the project in
2005 as is indicated in the given
diagram. Many of the successful
enterprises are those related to livestock
production.
Since its inauguration, the project has
had some community groups that
have excelled in the implementation of
its
activities
with
their
group
members benefiting by raising their
food production and raising incomes.
One such community group that has
excelled is KENDA MUIHURU in
North Nakuru Sub-county. The group
Bee house at Kenda Muihuri Group
applied for an NMK component 1 grant
and was funded with Kshs 150,000
(One hundred and fifty thousand
shilling only), for a bee keeping project.
Page 42
The group bought 12 KTBH and set a
site where they constructed a hut (an
Apiary) and also purchased all the
accessories for the apiary. Currently,
averages of about 8 KTBHs are always
occupied.
The group harvests the honey regularly
with each harvest yielding 20-25kgs of
raw honey. The honey is then sold to
the members and the community at
Ksh300 for raw honey and Ksh 450 per
kilogram of refined honey
Key Impact Points of the Project
The project has had various impacts to
the vulnerable
and the general
populace in the following ways :
Increased adoption of crop and livestock
technologies relevant to farmers needs,
improved yields and incomes ,building
of farmers’ skills and capacity through
participatory
approaches
and
experiential
learning,
increased
processing,
value
addition
and
marketing of crop and livestock
products, increased availability of seeds
and
planting
materials
through
community based seed bulking and
enhanced
Natural
Resource
Management through agro-forestry and
environmental conservation projects.
incomes, thus escaping from the fangs
of hunger, poverty and malnutrition.
This will immensely contribute to
MDG1’
Author: Kithama Jeremiah, Food
Security
Division,
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
Lugari Farmers Embrace
Mono Sex Tilapia Cat
Fish Over Mixed Sex
Tilapia
By Caleb Sifuna Lugari sub-county
Lugari Fish farmers are ripping benefits
from adopting Mono sex Tilapia and cat
fish on their farms. The farmers in
lugari sub-county have come to realize
the benefits of rearing Mono sex Tilapia
and cat fish on their farms rather than
stocking their ponds with mixed sex
varieties.
Advantages of rearing Mono sex Tilapia
and Cat fish over mixed sex Tilapia
include :
Concluding Remarks
Extension Officers are encouraged to
inform registered community groups to
take advantage of the project and apply
for the grants to upscale their livestock
production capacities and improve their
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 43
1. It increases the cost of production in
terms of feed.
2. They tend to take long time before
they attain table size because there
is wastage of energy.
3. No efficiency in feed utilization.
Fish harvested from Mr. Ezekiel Jengo’s farm
who adopted Monosex Tilapia in Lugari Subcounty
1. There is efficiency in feed utilization
because the farmer knows the exact
number of fish he/she is feeding.
2. Both Mono sex Tilapia and Cat fish
have faster growth rate over mixed
sex Tilapia.
Below are Pictures Showing Fish
Farming Activities in Lugari
Rearing of Monosex Tilapia and Cat fish
is key to achieving food security and
improving income in Lugari and Kenya
as a
3. Stocking fish ponds with catfish has
whole.
greater advantage because it
eliminates serious competitors (frogs)
from the pond.
Farmer monitoring his ponds in
Lugari sub –county
Prepared by Caleb Sifuna
Fish Farming Extension Officer
Fish farming extension officer in Lugari
admiring a 4.5kg cat fish from Mr. Isaac
Asena’s farm in Lugari Sub-county.
Disadvantages of stocking the fish pond
with mixed sex Tilapia
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 44
Mifugo News Magazine June 2014
Page 45