Taita Taveta County livestock farmers have been urged to harvest and preserve pasture during the rainy season to cushion their animals against devastating feed shortages during dry spells.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sifa FM Voi, Taita Taveta County Livestock Production Officer Simon Titus noted that while farmers routinely struggle to feed their livestock during droughts, the ultimate solution lies in proactive pasture conservation when grass is in abundance.
“Storing hay during the wet season ensures a steady feed supply when the dry weather sets in, saving farmers from avoidable losses,” Titus explained.
To streamline agricultural support, the county officer appealed to farmers to organize themselves into self-help groups. He noted that extension officers can deliver targeted training, modern farming techniques, and direct government aid far more efficiently to organized groups than to individual farmers.
“It is much easier for agricultural officers to reach, train, and support farmers when they are structured in organized groups,” Titus added.
Beyond production, the county official challenged livestock farmers to aggressively register with Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (Saccos) to build financial resilience. Joining Saccos, he noted, will grant farmers quick access to affordable credit and emergency funding to boost their enterprises.
In addition to financial services, Titus strongly encouraged farmers to register with county-backed Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
According to the county official, these FPOs are designed to streamline market access, guarantee competitive prices for livestock and farm produce, and eliminate predatory middlemen who historically exploit scattered, unorganized farmers by buying their produce at throwaway prices.
