The Principal Secretary for Agriculture Mr Jonathan Mueke and his team was today received in Bondo sub-County of Siaya to access the impacts and infrastructural developments under the KELCOP program.
The program which is run in collaboration between the County Government and the National Government focuses in providing a value-chain for the multi-million-shilling-worth livestock market.
In Siaya County KELCOP oversees the Arongo Water-pan in West Uyoma, Rarieda sub-County, Bondo slaughterhouse in North Sakwa Ward, and Ng’iya livestock market in Alego-Usonga.
Speaker of Siaya County Assembly George Okode who received the PS on behalf of Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo said the projects are worth a cool KES 46 million.
Okode also promised to mobilize the Assembly in setting up legislation that will help in securing additional funding for the projects.
Though there are challenges connected to pest infestation, the County Government has expressed optimism in setting up modalities to curtail the effects. To this effect there has been an introduction to the adoption of improved breeds and roll-out of vaccination programs to overcome these challenges and increase livestock production.
The expansion of markets is one way the county government wants to use as a game-changer.
KELCOP has also helped in the area of climate change. In terms of sustainability the County Government of Siaya is looking for broader ways of enhancing this value chain by adopting training in specific areas that can harness production in and for continuity.
The CECM for Trade Grace Agola called on the national government to consider the expansion and more funding for the Aram Market which she noted serves a wider network within Alego and Bondo.
Participants called for areas of collaborations and working with communities and also to implement timely disbursement of money from the said projects going forward without delay.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor, George Okode appreciated the gesture and welcomed the project’s benefits to the county. He also called for increased funding for other related projects in the sector such as Aram, Akala and called for increased funding allocations in such areas to boost productivity in markets for the livestock sector.
PS Jonathan Mueke assured the County Government of improved collaboration in areas that the project will target. He also gave the assurance of the National Government that Aram market will be allocated more funding to accommodate the growing number of market activities and recognized the impact of these projects.
He also called on the County Government to consider introducing impact-findings for more projects for future consideration.
Others who spoke including CECM Agriculture Sylvester K’Okoth noted that allocations fall short of expectations depriving agricultural projects of their rightful place at the center of the economy.
Additionally, participants called on the County Government to prudently bring bills for the Assembly that may increase allocations. The other shortfall they noted are technical people, diseases affecting livestock production and training.
Since the onset of devolution there has been an acute shortage of devolved technical support from human capital perspective and they called for enabling legislation that can address these challenges.
Participants also noted that the livestock sector continued to lack markets and called on efforts that can create more cooperative societies for the market.
The Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke thanked the County Government led by Governor James Orengo for its commitment to Agriculture as a source of advancing livelihoods and called for full working cooperation with the national government.
He assured participants of the government’s commitment to completing value-addition chains and creating positive impacts in the lives of the people of Siaya.
Noting that Kenya continues to import meat to the middle east he called for enhanced vaccination to increase more milk per cow and meat as well.
“Breeding is one area that the national government will improve on to get better genetics in the livestock sector,” said Mueke.
On the issue of funding he assured participants that the national government will work on bills and forward to the Senate so that more funds are allocated.
The Principal Secretary appreciated the work done by Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo noting that he has been a pillar of devolution and participated in legislation that continue to affect the lives of Kenyans.
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