BY MARGARET KIMATHI
Farmers in Mwingi region in Kitui County have been urged to vaccinate their livestock in a bid to prevent them from infectious and hazardous diseases.
Region’s veterinary officer Ms Martha Kata said the county government of Kitui was committed to help the farmers rear health breeds of livestock through a vaccination exercise which is carried out from the beginning of the year across the vast county.
Her call to the livestock keepers comes at the backdrop of failed March-April long rains – a situation that could leave the farmers gazing at loses due to unavailability of pasture and water for their animals.
But while speaking to the press in her office in Mwingi Ms Kata allayed the fears for the farmers saying the county ministry of Agriculture, Water and Livestock has partnered with the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) to ensure farmers are provided with pastures when drought strikes.
“We occasionally carry out vector control, de-worming and treatment of animals,” she said adding that the common species they deal with include cattle, goats and donkeys.
According the vet officer one of the common diseases affecting livestock in Mwingi region is the contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia which mostly affects goats. “It leads to the inflammation of the lungs and accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity which interferes with effective respiration and causes the goat to die due to lack of oxygen,” Ms Kata explained.
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