Farmers in Nyamataro Kisii County have a reason to smile after they received 25 rams for distribution to farmers’ co-operatives in the area to improve the quality of existing breeds.
The farmers received the special Rams from Agriculture is Power, a nongovernmental organisation based in Netherlands.
Led by the Kisii agricultural officer Julius Nyandoro at Nyamataro shopping center the famers received two types of rams, Corriedale and Dorper.
Corriedale breeds weigh between 60-100 kilograms each and can produce an average of 8kg of wool per annum. The breed matures at 8-14 months compared to the current breeds in the market, which takes up to two years to mature.
Regional manager for Agriculture is Power Daniel Stedge advised farmers to take good care of the animals and avoid in-breeding adding that each group will be allowed to keep the ram for a period of one to two years before the animal is replaced with a different ram to avoid in-breeding.
He urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the rams and avoid exposing them to rain or hostile weather.