A community-based approach to genetic improvement and multiplication effective in transforming livelihoods
Posted by Angela Mutegi on 01 June 2023 9:35 AM CAT
Wilson Kipeno, a 46-year-old livestock farmer, and community leader in Kenya’s Transmara South, Narok County, used to travel 305 kilometres by road to the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) offices in Naivasha, Nakuru County, to secure the best breeds of bulls for his herd. Each trip cost him some hundreds of thousands of shillings - about KES 150,000 for the bull, to transport it back home, accommodation and other indirect expenses while in Naivasha. It was an expensive and daunting affair!
%20(1).jpg "Mr Wilson Kipeno makes a presentation during the official launch of, a first of its kind, Regional Mobile Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) Centre, Nairobi, Kenya.")
Genetic Improvement
Over time, Kipeno and his community were introduced to the dual-purpose (meat and milk) Sawihal breed. It is heat-tolerant, and sought for its high resistance to internal and external parasites, including ticks. It is the ideal breed for the semi-arid and arid conditions as those of Transmara county.
Even so, the challenges of accessing the superior bulls at affordable prices persisted. Quality Sawihal breed was scarce and more expensive. The challenges of in-breeding prevailed, meaning farmers had to refresh their genetic pool often to maintain genetic diversity and productivity. This was disheartening for a community that now heavily relied on Sawihal genetic resources for their livelihood.
.jpg "Sahiwal Calves")
Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs)
Desperate to preserve genetic diversity, and acquire superior breeds at sustainable prices for his community, especially small holder farmers, Kipeno connected to African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) through KARLO. Through the Live2Africa Project, the community was introduced to the Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs). This helped increase the rate of genetic progress, and faster multiplication and distribution of top most proven Sawihal genetics among farmers, marking the beginning of a long standing partnership. “We sought for help from partners and AU-IBAR come to our aid,” Kipeno discloses.
Adoption of new technology
“At first, the new technology was foreign and challenging to farmers who were sceptical because they could not see a bull,” says Kipeno. AU-IBAR conducted a sensitisation and capacity building training on new technology for 36 community leaders. “At Naivasha, we saw the process of estrus synchronization (selection of bulls for use) and Artificial Insemination (AI), specifically synchronization. We knew that the use of AI program would be the way to go for our community,” says Kipeno. As a result, the community divided its land into 12 clusters, each with a chairman and committee for easy management. “In no time we got our first AI Calf.” Kipeno notes that the need for a bull is diminishing as farmers have realised that AI is cheaper, easier, safer and reliable.
They began with the Zebu, a small cow of about 100 to 120 kilograms. “We started AI in the middle, from changing the Zebu cow, we are now in intermediate,” says Kipeno, adding that the model they adopted is unique. “Each cluster or village has a central location where we put the animals, so the animals belong to the community. We therefore avoid squabbling over ownership of the animals,” he remarks. The decision for joint effort was to achieve faster growth.
Improved livelihoods
According to Kipeno, the community has started to get better returns. “A cow that we used to sell for KES 30,000, now sells at KES 200,000 to 300, 000,” says an elated Kipeno. A farmer who was struggling to pay school fees can now afford it from the sale of just one cow, and not ten to make the same amount. “We used to get two litres of milk from a zebu cow, now we get ten litres from the new breed of cows. When you sell it for meat, you get more kilograms which means more money. Selling a live animal still yields more money,” Kipeno proudly states.
With the increased income from the livestock, Kipeno and his community have started training women on value addition. “We need to support them to go commercial. We want to grow to the level that we have milk coolers, and start milk processing in future,” he remarks. “We would be happy to have local and international market.” The community’s new challenge is access to markets now that its capacity to produce milk and meat has grown tremendously. The community seeks to partner with the public and private sector, to grow production and markets for the community.
Background
The Sustainable Development of Livestock for Livelihoods in Africa (Live2Africa) Project, was developed as an initiative by AU – IBAR towards the implementation of continental components of the Livestock Development Strategy for Africa (LiDeSA 2015 – 2035). The Live2Africa Project was implemented by AU-IBAR through European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU). The seven year project that ran from June 2017 to June 2023, was implemented in all five regions of the continent, in partnership with six Regional Economic Communities (COMESA, EAC, ECCAS, ECOWAS, SADC and UMA),African Union Member States, and with a diversity of technical and implementing partners and livestock value chain actors.
