Nyeri Governor H. E Mutahi Kahiga has flagged off four Artificial Insemination (A. I) vehicles and one tractor which will be distributed to Othaya, Mathira, Kieni East and Kieni West sub counties for the purposes of boosting dairy farming in the county.
Speaking at the county headquarters, the governor said that the distribution of the vehicles will go a long way in improving the dairy breeds available in the county and help to increase milk production. He added that the county plans to extend the services to all the sub counties in Nyeri.
The tractor will be hired to farmers at half-price of the current tractor hire market rates, and it has the capacity to harvest and chop foliage for silage making. Governor Kahiga added that the budget allocation for the vehicles was done in June last year and procurement of the equipment done later.
Agriculture CEC James Wachihi said that the vehicles will enhance mobility of the extension officers and raise the number of AI services offered from 12, 000 to 20,000 per year. The County Government of Nyeri has been offering free A.I services by servicing 12,000 dairy cows annually. He added that the vehicles will aid in mechanization of agriculture and help in the transition from traditional methods of farming.
County Assembly Agriculture Committee chair Hon. Mureithi Ndagita lauded the initiative and promised to allocate more funds to agriculture to see to it that all sub counties acquire an AI vehicle.
