Thika West Sub-County residents have been asked to desist from eating uninspected meat during the expected El Nino rains.
Speaking while inspecting meat at Thika slaughter house on Wednesday, Gilbert Wanjau, a health officer, said that the rains will come with mixed blessings and particularly asked residents to take caution against the adverse effects that will accompany the rains.
“Animals are likely to suffer from several rain fever diseases and residents should be vigilant and take precaution against animal diseases during the season that is expected to start in October,” said Wanjau.
Wanjau however assured Thika residents that the Kiambu County government had put in place appropriate measures that will mitigate against the adverse effects.
He revealed that the county had already purchased green houses for groups in every ward to mitigate tea farmers against incurring losses.
He asked residents to embrace value chains adding that it allowed different actors in the chain to explore their potential effectively.
“Middlemen in the chain play a vital role in assembling small quantities from farmers. It will be a waste of time and uneconomical for small scale farmers to walk long distance to sell their goods to an industry that offers good prices,” he said.
Wanjau also asked residents to use the weather updates to prepare their farm activities saying that his programme was closely working with the Meteorological Department in Limuru and Gatundu to release weekly updates.