Ripple Effect to offer Kenyan farmers veterinary support in upcoming trade fair

Ripple Effect, a non-governmental organization dedicated to rural development and animal welfare, said in a statement that the one-day fair will cure the scarce veterinary advice and reliable medication for livestock in Kenya’s remote rural areas.

The event will seek to educate farmers on how to save money and maintain animal health through best practice feeding and animal husbandry, identify diseases that need veterinary attention, provide access to essential agrovet support services in their areas and also how to keep good records on infections and vaccinations to prevent the spread of disease.

Ripple Effect’s coordinator for the project Dr Peter Ngielo added that the project will help bolster livestock farming and improve market productivity.

“This work is a win-win all round. Healthy animals produce more; healthy produce fetches good prices in the markets for farmers; and rural people have more safe and nutritious food they can buy,” he said.

Currently, Ripple Effect says that one agricultural extension officer supports over 1,000 farming households in many districts, instead of 400, as recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The event will run in Bungoma and Kakamega counties as part of Ripple Effect’s improved animal health for sustainable livelihoods project.

"The project takes a “community of practice” consultative approach, bringing together community leaders, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock, Irrigation, and Co-operatives in Bungoma County, and the Kenya Veterinary Board," read the statement in part.