Forget cattle dips, we will spray your animal for Sh30

What you need to know:

  • The group that consists of 12 women and 11 men aged between 25 and 35 was registered in November 2011. Their main objective was to rehabilitate the Ihigaini Cattle Dip, which had collapsed several years back.
  • Each day, nine group members start spraying from 7am to 9.30pm and 5pm to 7 pm in Mukarara, Kiangunyi, Kanorero, Marimira, Gakira and Kiarathe villages.
  • The group that consists of 12 women and 11 men aged between 25 and 35 was registered in November 2011. Their main objective was to rehabilitate the Ihigaini Cattle Dip, which had collapsed several years back.

Some 26km from Murang’a town in Kangema sub-county sits Ihigaini, a quiet village with an alluring green vegetation and a good weather that supports crop and livestock farming.

It is foggy, however, when I venture into the village to meet a group of young men who have turned themselves into vets, bringing hope to tens of livestock farmers.

David Mwangi, 35, is a member of the Ihigaini Youth Bunge comprising of 23 young men and women, who are educating farmers on diseases and helping them control ticks, the cause of East Coast Fever, among other livestock ailments.

And they are making some good money out of the agribusiness.

The group that consists of 12 women and 11 men aged between 25 and 35 was registered in November 2011. Their main objective was to rehabilitate the Ihigaini Cattle Dip, which had collapsed several years back.

“We learnt that every month, the veterinary department would receive at least 20 cases of tick-borne diseases and four cows would die,” explains Mwangi, the chair of the group, adding his family was among those affected.

“There were also acaricide-related ailments as farmers sprayed their cows without protective gear.”

The group visited the veterinary department at the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries in Murang’a in 2012 and made a proposal to rehabilitate the cattle dip.

“After an assessment, the ministry informed us the work was going to cost Sh300,000, which we could not afford,” recounts Mwangi.
Through the ministry, they later got opportunity to be trained on dairy farming practices under the East Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme, funded by the World Bank.

“We were trained on milk production, fodder establishment, tick control and yoghurt making,” says Faith Njeri, the group’s secretary.

After eight months of training, the group received five sprayers from their trainers, a litre of acaricide and five pairs of protective gear consisting of aprons, nose masks, gumboots, gloves and caps.

“The chief helped us organise a forum in 2013 where we educated cattle farmers on tick control and the need to spray regularly. This gave us our big break,” explains Mwangi.

SPRAYING 90 COWS

“We now go door-to-door spraying cows, goats and dogs and educating farmers on livestock diseases and alternative fodder crops.”

They have so far received additional equipment from Murang’a County Senator Kembi Gitura, who gave them seven spray pumps and seven pairs of uniforms in 2013.

The group started serving one village but now serves six spraying 90 cows on a good day.

Each day, nine group members start spraying from 7am to 9.30pm and 5pm to 7 pm in Mukarara, Kiangunyi, Kanorero, Marimira, Gakira and Kiarathe villages.

“On a good day, we spray about 90 cows, 30 goats and cats and dogs. We charge Sh30 per cow, Sh20 per goat and Sh30 for each cat and dog,” explains Njeri.

“Each member is paid Sh10 per cow sprayed. Members don’t earn money on goats and dogs. In total, we generate an average of Sh3,300 on a good day. Sh900 goes to members’ pay and the rest, we save Sh1,000 in our account and spend Sh1,400 on acaricides.”

The group teaches farmers on how to feed fodder to their animals for more milk.

“Banana leaves and maize stocks were the main sources of cattle feed in these villages. We have introduced calliandra, desmodium, Boma Rhodes and Kakamega One and Two, which are good protein sources,” explains Mwangi.

“We also plant grasses for farmers at Sh2,000 for 50 by 100 feet plots. So far we have planted on five plots in Ihigaini. This is new but it’s picking up.”

The group also produce yoghurt which they sell at Sh60 for 250ml at agricultural forums.

“We only buy milk from our members who keep cows at Sh40 a litre, process it into yoghurt and sell during agricultural forums,” says Njeri.

Peter Irungu, a veterinary officer and the group’s trainer at the Ministry of Livestock, Kangema sub-county, says the county would lose up to four cows every month due to anaplasmosis (a parasitic disease, trypanosomiasis (nagana) and East Coast Fever.

“Treating the diseases would cost up to Sh4,000 a cow, which many farmers found expensive. The group has helped us eliminate the problem.”