News Categories: Agriculture

14 Mar
By: Kajiado County Admin 0

Empowering Dairy Farmers Through the One Health Approach*

*Empowering Dairy Farmers Through the One Health Approach*

I had the incredible opportunity to join 80 members of the Oloitokitok Dairy Cooperative in a transformative workshop focused on the One Health Approach. This is a holistic strategy linking human, animal, and environmental health for a more sustainable dairy sector.

With the support of our valued partner, the Cooperative University of Kenya, we are equipping farmers with the knowledge and skills to enhance livestock management, milk production, and ecological balance while safeguarding public health.

We endeavour to build a healthier, more productive, and sustainable future for dairy farming in Oloitokitok.

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06 Mar
By: Kajiado County Admin 0

NAVCDP Kajiado County Rolls Out Knowledge Management Field Visits

NAVCDP Kajiado County Rolls Out Knowledge Management Field Visits

The National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) is a Community-Driven Development initiative aimed at enhancing market participation and value addition for targeted small-scale farmers across 35 counties in Kenya.The NAVCDP Project Coordination and Management framework incorporates Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and knowledge management to track project progress, assess impact, and facilitate continuous improvement and document best and effective practices and success stories for learning and replication purposes.

The County Project Coordination Unit (CPCU) conducts regular M&E activities to evaluate project implementation, identify areas for enhancement, and ensure effective stakeholder engagement through a well-structured communication strategy. This includes knowledge management and active citizen participation in project planning, execution, and evaluation.In alignment with these objectives, the Kajiado CPCU, led by County Project Coordinator Mr. Phillip Koitalel, along with M&E Lead Mr l. Kasaine Meikoki and the Communications Panel of Experts (POEs), recently carried out a comprehensive M&E and KM field visit. The activities involved traversing the county to assess the progress of NAVCDP initiatives within local communities.The intensive two-weeks exercise engaged both small and medium-scale farmers across NAVCDP Kajiado’s five key value chains: Red Meat, Dairy, Chicken, Apiculture, and Tomato. Additionally, the team visited several Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and SACCOs operating under NAVCDP.The CPC emphasized the project’s commitment to scaling up communication efforts to keep all stakeholders informed in real time. This proactive approach has significantly contributed to community acceptance and support for the project and its priority value chains development strategies.Francis Sakuda, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, commended the M&E team’s field visits, stressing that regular assessments are crucial for understanding farmers’ challenges and contributions.A nunber of effective practices, and documentary capturing insights from the field visits will be available soon.

 

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31 Aug
By: Kajiado County Admin 0

KAJIADO COUNTY SIGN AN MOU WITH SEED SYSTEMS GROUP

KAJIADO COUNTY SIGN AN MOU WITH SEED SYSTEMS GROUP

Kajiado Government through the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation & Fisheries today on 29th August, 2023, signed an MoU with Seed Systems Group (a non-profit organization registered in the United States as a 501(C) and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya) on Sustainable Adoption of Improved Pasture and Fodder production and conservation among Smallholder Agro-Pastoralists in Kajiado County. This will boost the implementation of Modulated pastoralism, a model that is aimed at phasing out of the unsustainable traditional pastoralism in favour of adoption of economically and culturally sustainable livestock production systems through increased pasture and fodder production.

The MoU was signed by Mr Francis Ole Sakuda (County Secretary) on behalf of the County Government of Kajiado and by Dr Wilson Songa on behalf of Seed Systems Group (Director). Present to witness the signing were Augustine Sekeyian (County Attorney), Dr Jacktone Achola (CECM for Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation & Fisheries), Francis Metian (CO for Livestock & Irrigation), Paul Tikani (Seeds Systems Group) and Nelson Karumba, Advocate (Seed Systems Group).

 

 

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03 Mar
By: Kajiado County 0

Departmental Scorecard 2017-2022- Agriculture, Livestock and Veterinary Services

The government of HE Government Joseph ole Lenku though through the ministry of Agriculture, livestock’s & fisheries embarked on  several strategies that would help enhance food security, income generation as well as wealth creation through promotion of competitive agriculture, sustainable livestock & fisheries. To achieve this, the department embarked on:

  • Capacity building to farmers on best farming methods
  • Increased surveillance of pests & diseases, eg (Desert Locust invasion)
  • Livestock vaccinations & extension services on veterinary services
  • Construction of new markets and cattle vaccination crushes
  • Provision of extension services & vaccination of livestock’s
  • Value addition on livestock’s and farm produce
  • Continuous capacity building for farmers
  • Provision of farm inputs to farmers

  Milestone Achieved (2017 – 2020)

DEPARTMENT Project Achievement To-date
Agriculture, Livestock & Fisheries    
   
Construction of cattle crushes 38
Vaccinations 53, 093 goats and cattle vaccinated against RVF in addition 389,000 Shoats vaccinated against PPR
Dog Deworming 4000 dogs dewormed
Completion of Isinya Tannery 1
Construction of hay barn 1
Renovation of Hay ban 1
Renovation of cattle dip 1
Construction of milking parlour 1
Construction machine shade 1
 Livestock Vaccination (Vaccination figures} 2,979,445
Livestock Sale Yards-construction of sale yard 2
Dairy Milk Coolers Houses 2
Livestock Weighing Scales 2
Construction of grain drier room and office block at Entarara 1
Construction of Kuku Furrow and irrigation 1
Completion of Tomatoes Processing Plant at Namelok Ongoing
Community water pans and dams-Construction and disilting Ongoing countywide
Mosiro irrigation project- Pipeline extension from the Narok County linkage Ongoing countywide
Construction and equiping of community fish ponds 8
Provision of Fingerlings to farmers groups 14,000
Provision of fish feeds to farmer groups 400kgs
provision of fish pond liners to farmers groups 2
provision of sein nets to farmers groups 4
Provision of Predator nets to farmers groups 4

 

 

PROGRAMME Project Achievement To-date
Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project  
Objective: To increase Agricultural Productivity and Enhance Resilience to Climate Change Risks
  Outcome: Increased income, enhanced resilience to climate change
  Community level investments (micro-projects) 244 Common Interest Groups(CIGs) & Vulnerable and marginalized groups(VMGs) supported with micro-project grants : (Amount disbursed: Ksh160 Million)
  Oloontulugum Water/Irrigation Sub-project Borehole drilled and equipped ; solar panel installed, 135M³ water tank constructed, masonry water kiosk and cattle trough(Cost: Ksh14.3 Million)
  Rift Valley and Blue Tongue Vaccination Sub-project 332,000 livestock (cattle, sheep and goats vaccinated(Cost: Ksh9.7 Million)
  Kimana Livestock Sale yard  Sub-project Construction of: Sale yard; holding paddocks(7No.), loading ramp(2No.), exchange sheds(2No,); Market sheds(10No.); water troughs; hay barn(1No..) on-going(State: 75% completion)
  CCPP Vaccination Sub-project 516,400 goats vaccinated against CCPP (Cost: Ksh19.6 Million)
  Support to Producer organizations 5 producer organizations supported with inclusion grants(Cost: Ksh2.5 Million)
  Purchase of motorcycles 9 motorcycles purchased for extension services (Cost:Ksh4 million)
Regional Pastoral Livelihoods Resilience Project Objective: To develop and implement regional approaches that enhance livelihoods of pastoralists and agro-pastoral communities in selected counties of ASALs of Kenya  
  Eyaarat water pan 1
  Rehabilitation of Bissil sale yard 70% complete
  Drilling of Mosiro borehole 90% complete
  Construction of Kikuro hay ban 1
  Construction of Nkama livestock sale yard 1
  Construction of Torosei water pan 80% complete
Small Scale Irrigation and value Addition Project(SIVAP)  
Objective: To contribute to poverty reduction by ensuring increased agricultural productivity and incomes
  Construction of Illasit Livestock sale yard 90% complete
  Construction of grading shade 90% complete
  Drilling of borehole 50% complete

PARTNER Project Achievement To-date
Bayer EA Supply of Drought tolerant maize seeds 30 tonnes
National Irrigation Board(NIB) Excavation of water pans 254
Emergency Department Procurement of PPEs 100PPEs
Supply of Agro chemicals 300 Litres
Supply of motorized sprayers 10
Supply of Knapsack sprayers 30
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Fisheries & Cooperatives(National Government) Aflasafe KE 01 Kit for afflatoxin management 4 tonnes
Hand Maize Sheller’s 20
Moisture Meters 3
Hermetic bags 100
   
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27 Aug
By: CGK 0

EFFECTING SERVICE DELIVERY IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR

The County Government of Kajiado through its department of Agriculture and its Partners who are a Government Agency was delighted to have flagged off nine motorcycles at the county demonstration farm in Kajiado town to ease agricultural extension services in various wards of Rombo,Entonet Lenkisim,Kimana,Matapato South and North,Ildamat,Ngong,Magadi and kekoonyokie.

Four of the motorcycles have been provided to the County Government Department of Agriculture by Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP)which is a government of Kenya project jointly supported by the World bank.

Another five of the motorcycles were provided by Kenya Agricultural market Information System(KAMIS) which is a set of integrated coordinated processes and tools to collect and deliver agricultural and livestock market information and services to help guide farmers,traders,processors, government agencies amongst others that may benefit from current market data.

At the same time the county also received tablets and weighing scales from KAMIS that shall be used in the county bigs markets of Loitokitok ,Ilbissil,Kajiado,Ngong,Kiserian and Kitengela .

Spearheading the occasion was the Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho who said this will go a long way in gathering and availing important data to farmers and traders.

The Deputy Governor noted that the move is a great step towards the realization of effective service delivery to our farmers and placing them at an advantageous positions for market price of commodities across the County, market opportunities, tracking data of the volumes of supplied commodities in various markets and traded volumes at border points.

The information will further help the County government in making legislation, regulations and policies with regard to Agricultural marketing activities.

 

 

 

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14 Jul
By: CGK 0

TRANSFORMATION OF LIVELIHOODS

Our economic empowerment programmes in the rural areas continue to transform livelihoods at the grassroots.

Our partners continue to work closely with us in our effort to improve food security and safeguard the livelihoods of our people.

Together with the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Programme, H.E the Governor has supported households and women groups in Magadi Ward with Sahiwal steers and heifers, dairy and meat goats, indigenous chicken, honey extractors, baling machines, spraying equipment, among other equipment.

H.E the Governor added that he is delighted to see the local communities adopt alternative sources of livelihoods.

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30 Apr
By: CGK 0

FOREST WATCH

Kajiado is proud to be among one of the three inaugural counties (among them Machakos and Makueni) that have launched the nationwide drive to plant 2 Million trees ahead of the 7th Devolution Conference in August.

The new drive launched at Entarara water catchment at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro in Kajiado South is a valuable move towards conservation of our environment as well as mitigating the impact of climate change among our people.

This is a joint initiative between the Council of Governors, the National Government and Equity and Kengen Foundations among other stakeholders.

H.E the Governor appreciated his colleagues Governor Francis Kimemia (Nyandarua), H.E. Dr Wilber Ottichilo – Governor Vihiga County and Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa for gracing the event.

HE went ahead and urged the people of Kajiado to take advantage of the ongoing rains and plant trees to improve the current 7.1% forest cover which has raised from 3.6 % , four years ago.

 

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10 Feb
By: CGK 0

LOCUST INVASION

The County Government of Kajiado through the County Department of Agriculture , Livestock and Fisheries has confirmed that desert locusts have invaded the County. Crop protection officers on the ground have established positive sightings of the locusts first reported in areas of Malilima in Dalalekutuk Ward, Kikuro Location in Kajiado Central. The middle sized swarm had covered a 5km sq. radius as per last evening. Other confirmed areas of the invasion have also been ascertained today morning in Matapato North, Lele, Meto , Olomunyi, Onkorika,Elobirir spreading across to areas of Kajiado East in Sholinke Location and further into, Eseki ,Noompopong, Olooitikoshi and Oldonyo Lodge in Imbirikani areas of Kajiado South.
Speaking in Kajiado today, the CEC in charge of The Department of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Jackline Koin said the swarm that has roosted in these areas has been established to be the same destructive breed that was first reported to have invaded the Country through Mandera in late December. She said, the locusts are in full incubation period according to her field extension officers on the ground and are feeding on all vegetation. She has assured Members of the public that the County Government is fully in control of the situation through the County Coordination Team under the leadership of H.E. the Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho.
Koin also revealed that the County Treasury had procured and dispatched to the affected areas, immediate mitigation equipment  including15 motorised sprayers, 30 knapsack sprayers and 300 litres of pesticides. These she said will be used for ground mitigation efforts awaiting aerial spraying by the State Department of Agriculture once they have received location coordinates in the coming week. Further, the Agriculture Department has reached out to members of the public through local vernacular stations to assure them of the measures initiated by the County in this crisis and to allay any fears by farmers of wanton crop destruction.
“The State Department had earlier trained our local administration officers including members of the public on locust mitigation in the event of such an invasion and as such the initial response on the ground will be impactful” said Koin.
Earlier last month H.E. the Governor issued a press release allaying any initial fears of the purported locust sightings that were verified by crop protection officers as variegated grasshoppers He directed the County Coordination Team  to spearhead efforts towards mitigating their effect and the anticipated invasion of the desert locusts in conjuction with the Inter County Coordination Commitee composed of neighbouring counties of  Narok,Makueni, Machakos, Kitui and Taita Taveta against the threat of the Desert Locust.
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10 Jan
By: CGK 0

SMART AGRICULTURE PROJECT

68 farmers Self-Help Groups today received cheques amounting to Sh44M to facilitate their micro enterprise projects to thrive in value addition of livestock by-products and locally available farm based produce.

The project, an initiative between The County Government of Kajiado and The World Bank Group attracted 191 proposals from Self-Help Groups including Vulnerable and Marginalized Groups.

A total of 139 groups from Kajiado West, Kajiado South and Kajiado Central Sub Counties were approved for inclusion in the project.

Speaking during the occasion at the County Headquarters, H.E. Joseph Lenku said the value chain project is appropriate in view that livestock rearing and especially tomato farming have continued to stir business conversations in the County while cementing the backbone of agricultural production in the Kajiado.

“I am glad that the farming project targets community empowerment through value chain in tomato farming and meat production,” he added.

He said for the longest time women and children had been considered as the most vulnerable group in the society and termed the composition of the target groups by the project as noble.

Lenku was optimistic that the success of the project in the three pilot sub counties will hopefully upon proper evaluation attract more funding from The World Bank with more Wards benefiting from the program.

He committed to work closely with the World Bank in ensuring that more deserving ventures are funded in the near future as a way of empowering communities and the enhancing the livelihood of the people.

At the same time the Governor challenged the youth to embrace agri-business as source of employment and a means of alleviating poverty in their communities.

Agriculture and Livestock CEC, Jackline Koin said since its inception in 2017, the project has made major in-roads in teaching farmers on livestock and crop farming.

She added that the selection process for the target sub counties and Self-Help Groups was transparent with strict parameters set out in a baseline survey done in six Wards in Kajiado East, West and Central in 2007.

These included poverty levels in the Wards, vulnerability to climate risks , absence of similar initiatives to avoid duplication, presence of priority value chains, geographical proximity to Wards and presence of Ward Level technical officers.

The 68 farmers’ self-help groups that received their cheques today have been trained in modern farming techniques and business skills including proposal writing and marketing.

Those in attendance  were Kajiado County MCAs, County Government Officers, Stakeholder representatives, Local leaders, farmers among others.

 

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01 Aug
By: CGK 0

KAJIADO SOUTH FARMERS EXPO 2019

The Kajiado South Farmers Expo took place at the D.O’s grounds in Rombo. The EXPO brought together farmers from all the Five Wards of Kajiado South(Imbirrikani,Kimana,Lenkisim,Kuku and Rombo)

The Expo was officiated by Martin Moshisho Kajiado DG,CEC for Agriculture,Livestock,Fisheries and Veterinary Service Jackline Koin and Rombo Ward MCA Hon Lengete.

The Farmers came in their thousands thirsty for new knowledge. The farmers were subjected to new information by over 30 exhibitors ranging from Agro Chemical ,Agro-Business consultants, Irrigation companies, Dairy experts, Modern Kitchen equipment’s to Seed and livestock experts and research firms.

The Exhibitions were designed such that each exhibitor had a 100 seater tent .Farmers upon registration were put into groups and would take seats in each exhibition for a 20 minutes class before they move into another exhibition. During each class, farmers would be given an opportunity to ask questions on whatever challenge they are facing on specific farming applications and given instant solutions without referral.

Farmers came into contact with experts from the private sector and government Agencies like Karlo,Kephis,Simlow Seeds,Ensda among others.

Farmers were taught on the dynamics of crop rotation, Soil science, application of chemicals, irrigation methods, quality of seeds and value additional on both crop and livestock produce.

During the Expo all farm products by the various exhibitors were sold at a subsidized rate.

The Kajiado South Farmer was not the same in the evening as they came in the Morning!

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