Inadequate AI officers deal blow to Migori Livestock farmers

Livestock farmers in Migori County are yet to benefit from the artificial insemination services launched by the county govern through the ministry of livestock last year.

Farmers claim that they have not been able to access the services and they are now calling upon the county government to roll out the programme to the grass root level so that they can all benefit.

Investigations done by Citizen Digital have established that the county government has not been able to effectively implement the AI programme because they have inadequate personnel trained on AI.

Migori County has only three trained livestock officer who can administer the AI; a situation that has undermined the implementation of the AI programme in Migori County.

The county executive committee member in charge of Agriculture, Livestock, fisheries and water resources Isca Oluoch admitted that the department has only three qualified officer that can administer the AI.

“We have plans and some of our officers have been taken back for training and the training is going to help us bridge those gaps,” Ms Oluoch said.

Ms Oluoch said inadequate number of qualified staff has posed a big challenged to them in implementing the AI programme.

She said they are committed as a department to improve the local livestock breeds in Migori County with the aim of improving milk production.

Report by George Omondi