Nakuru boosts dairy and beef sectors with subsidized AI services

VERONICA BOSIBORI- KNA 

The Nakuru County Government is taking significant strides to bolster the dairy and beef industry by providing subsidized Artificial Insemination (AI) services to farmers.

This initiative, aimed at enhancing productivity and increasing farmers’ incomes, is a testament to the county’s commitment to agricultural development, said Nakuru County Agriculture Executive Leonard Bor.

Twelve cooperatives in the county received artificial insemination kits to enable them to offer subsidized AI services to farmers at a reduced rate of Sh800 for quality semen, making it more affordable and accessible.

Mr. Bor said the county is now focused on capacity building and will train dairy cooperative officials, as it is crucial to ensure the successful implementation of the AI program.

“By equipping farmers and cooperative officials with the necessary knowledge and skills, the county aims to maximize the benefits of AI,” he said. He also mentioned that the county government is encouraging young people to embrace agriculture and join cooperatives.

By highlighting the potential for meaningful employment and income generation in the sector, they aim to attract the next generation of farmers.

Currently, he observed, most of the dairy farmers are 60 years and above.

Additionally, Bor said AI offers several advantages to the dairy farmers such as genetic improvement. The usage of semen from superior bulls improves the genetic quality of herds besides reducing the chances of in-breeding.

This leads to increased milk production, better quality milk, and faster growth rates of calves, he said.

Apart from that, he noted that farmers can plan their breeding programs more effectively, ensuring optimal calving and maximizing milk production.

Also, the AI programs enable farmers to access high-quality genetics from renowned breeding programs from countries such as Holland, regardless of their geographical location.

Before AI was introduced in the country, many small-scale dairy farmers were forced to purchase quality animals from large scale farmers at a cost of Sh250,000 and above.

Through these initiatives, Nakuru County is poised to become a leading dairy and beef production hub, Bor observed.

“By empowering farmers with modern technologies and supporting their efforts, the County Government is laying the foundation for a thriving agricultural sector,” he said.