Busia County Boosts Farmer Incomes with Dairy Goat Distribution Initiative
“The purpose of encouraging indigenous goats to be serviced by dairy bucks is to upgrade from indigenous breeds to improved varieties,”
The County Government of Busia, through its Department of Agriculture, has taken a significant step towards empowering local farmers economically by distributing 46 dairy goats to various farmers across the county.
This initiative, part of the Kenya Livestock and Commercialization Project (KeLCop), aims to increase farmers’ daily income through dairy goat farming. The pilot program targeted self-help groups in four wards: Elugulu ward in Butula sub-county, Bunyala North ward in Budalangi sub-county, Nambuku/Namboboto ward, and Amukura West in Teso South. These groups will now have the opportunity to engage in goat farming for commercial purposes.
“We are currently in four wards across the County, chosen based on population, availability of other stakeholders to partner with, and poverty levels. Our goal is to upscale the project and expand it to other parts of the county,” said Mr. Radoli Shiundu, the Busia County KeLCop coordinator.
Mr. Shiundu also noted that farmers with indigenous goat varieties will have access to buck services (male servicing) to improve their stock. “The purpose of encouraging indigenous goats to be serviced by dairy bucks is to upgrade from indigenous breeds to improved varieties,” he explained.
Ms. Mildred Okello Musumba, a member of the Bulemia Dairy Goat Farmers self-help group, expressed optimism about the project. “We have received 12 dairy goats from KeLCop, and we believe that, upon maturity, these goats will benefit us both economically and nutritionally,” she said.
Her sentiments were echoed by George Mulamba, a dairy goat farmer from Bukhalalire in Marachi Central ward, who also sees the potential economic benefits of the project.
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