KVDA:Introduces drought resistant African foxtail grass in Kerio valley to foster peace
African Foxtail Grass/Photo KVDA
By Robert Mutasi
The Kerio Valley Development Authority KVDA has introduced a new species of grass ,The African Foxtail grass that suits semi-arid and arid areas of Kerio Valley.
Speaking at the ASK Eldoret National Show exhibition on March 3,Friday,KVDA Chairperson Mark Chesergon said the grass species is drought-resistant and will reduce the challenges of pasture that pastoralists face, often leading to inter-community conflict within the Kerio valley.
“We want to provide Kerio valley communities with an alternative animal feed that can be used during the dry season saving them from traveling long distances that would often lead to conflict with other pastoral communities,” Opined Chesergon.
The grass that will be planted in Kerio valley areas like Baringo according to the KVDA chairperson,will solve the issue of rampant pasture conflicts and cattle rustling with other border communities who he appealed to eschew all forms of violence that continue to hinder economic empowerment programs in the region.
“We also want to use this African grass to end this situation of cattle theft , we want to urge our people to better their animal husbandry by improving their livestock breeds while planting more of these grasses that will ensure availability of animal feeds throughout the year which in turn would provide better returns for the people ,”advised Chesergon.
KVDA has further urged people within Kerio Valley to practice bee keeping that is suitable to the areas and especially in Tiaty constituency that produces some of the best Honey ,
Honey from the arid and semi arid areas of Northern Kenya is said to fetch some of the best prices Locally and internationally.
“We are asking Kerio valley communities to do more of beekeeping that has continued to benefit hundreds of families in the region ,KVDA has established a honey factory in Rokocho area in Elgeiyo Marakwet County that assures them of a ready market”
The factory processes over 150 tons of raw honey and last year alone bee farmers received over Ksh 60M from KVDA .
The Authority has also urged the Kerio valley farmers to double up mango farming in the region as alternative ways of earning a living away from cattle rustling .
“We have a multi million worth mango factory in Tot, able to produce 4.16 Million liters of Mango Juice,We Intend to plant over 8.5 Millioin mango trees in the valley to enhance production”Said Chesergon
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