FAO trains livestock extension officers from three counties

Three counties will benefit from the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s training in the production of hay aimed at combating the effects of drought.

FAO, in response to the global food security challenges, picked Kajiado, Makueni and Tana River counties and organised a one-week training in Machakos.

Those trained in a workshop ending today (Friday), are extension officers in agriculture and livestock departments in the three counties that have been hit by the ongoing drought.

The more than 150 officers from the three counties were on Thursday taken on a tour of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Arid and Range Lands Research Institute).

The research centre on arid lands started in 1969 in Kiboko.

Its focus is on developing, adapting and up-scaling scientific research innovations, information and knowledge geared towards sustainably managing the livelihoods of communities in arid and semi-arid lands.

Dennis Kubasu, a researcher at the Kiboko’s Kalro, was tasked to take the officers through the various processes of making hay.

Kubasu said the demand for hayseeds in the country has surpassed 20,000 tons while the research centre in Kiboko can only produce 8,000 tons annually.

“The size of the land at Kalro here is 15,512 ha (38330.987 acres). Out of those acreages, we have planted grass on 105 acres only and we are still expanding,” Kubasu said.

He said Kalro is addressing livestock, dry land crops and alternative livelihood options.

He said the Institute is located in ecological zone V which is not suitable for arable agriculture but ideal for the extensive production of cattle, goats, sheep and camels. 

"There is however need to develop drought-tolerant varieties to support household food production," he said. 

Kubasu said to close the gap in the demand for hayseeds, Kalro had started negotiating with livestock farmers in Kajiado and Makueni to be contracted to plant the grass but the long drought set in and spoiled the plan.

“We have a model of seed we are working on and once it starts raining, we will reach out to farmers. We have certified seeds for this project,” he said. 

Kibisu said crop production plays an important role in Kenya’s economic development as a major source of income, employment creation, and saving on foreign exchange expenditure through import substitution. 

He said currently, the annual crop production stands at 6 million tons of food crops, 4.2 million tons of horticultural crops, and 500,000 tons of industrial crops, all supporting 10 million households. 

He said crop diseases, pests, and weeds, greatly reduce the potential of these crop categories in quality and quantity.

“Currently, losses due to these constraints are estimated at 40 per cent. Efforts to increase production and reduce these losses take cognizance of the need to conserve the environment,” Kubasu said.

Kenya continues to import large quantities of both fresh and processed horticultural products to meet the high demand for local consumption. 

In this regard, Kubasu said, the generation of technologies to accelerate productivity, value addition, and enhancement of competitiveness in the sub-sector is necessary for meeting the local demand and tapping into regional and international market opportunities. 

Speaking to the Star, Kajiado's agriculture and livestock chief officer Frank Metian, thanked FAO for training their staff, adding that he will now expect the officers to move with speed and implement what they learnt from the course.

"Kajiado has fertile soil and if our farmers can prepare their farms in time before the rains, we can grow enough grass for our livestock. This is an area the leadership of this county, should support fully," Metian said.