A farmer looking after his cattle. [Photo/treehugger.com]
The Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) has partnered with four county governments which are hardest hit by cattle rustling and drought to buy cows from farmers in the region.
According to KMC Managing Director Joseph Learamo, the agreement targets over 40,000 animals that will be sold to the commission ahead of the expected drought season.
The animals will be drawn from Laikipia, Samburu, Isiolo and Baringo counties.
This was agreed during a meeting by the leaders of the four counties being spearheaded by Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi under the Amaiya initiative.
According to Muriithi, the move will make sure that no animal dies during drought season like it has been experienced in the past where thousands of animals have died.
The governor said that a sensitization exercise would be carried out in all the four counties to have the farmers agree to sell part of their animals.
“We don’t wait until when the animals are weak and have lost weight and value to off take the stock from the herders,” he said adding the fund will be able to conduct commercial offtake at the right time.