Lodwar – 27th September 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The County Government through the Department of Livestock Development, in partnership with UK-based Sea Water Solutions/NARA Company, is set to operationalize the Kerio livestock breeding and multiplication centre.
The centre aims to transform arid landscapes into productive agro-ecologies through innovative and technological solutions by using saline water for fodder and crops production. It also focuses on rangeland management and prosopis management in the region.
County Chief Officer (CCO) for Livestock Development, Dr Gilchrist Lokoel, acknowledged the support of NARA towards the sustainable development of pastoral communities through the project.
“The Kerio Livestock Breeding Centre project will help increase the resilience of pastoralists. As the County Government, we are keen to leverage on technological expertise and collaboration with partners to increase land under fodder production,” CCO Dr Lokoel said.
He also emphasized on the need by development partners to tailor their programs to suit the targeted communities in the county.
Head of Sea Water Solutions/NARA, Yanik Nyberg, said that the pilot project established at the centre has seen the replacement of the borehole pump, solar system and development of two fodder nurseries.
“Over the next six Months, NARA intends to scale up operations, we have engaged a consultant who will do a pre-feasibility study to assess the environmental, social, policy, and economic opportunities of the project,” he added.
County Director of Livestock Production, Bobby Ekadon, also stated that the Kerio centre is a priority flagship project hence the need for close collaboration to realize its operation.
Once initiated, the project will see increased livestock survival, improved livestock health, rangeland restoration, rehabilitation of degraded soils for fodder production, reduced livestock migration, job creation among others.
Present at the meeting were Joram Ewoton (Director Administration-ALDF), Dr. Nakadio Erenius(Deputy Director Veterinary Services),Thomas Kiyonga (Deputy Director Climate Change), Ernest Anzeze (Assistant Director, Livestock Production) and representatives from Agriculture Department, Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Kenya Forest Services and NARA.
