Farmers’ Field Day

Hon. Joseph Konzollo Munyao

The director of veterinary services,  the chairman, Kenya veterinary association, distinguished guests, Farmers, Ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed my pleasure to be here with you today to commemorate the world veterinary day in Kenya.  I am grateful to note that the veterinary department in conjunction with the Kenya veterinary association has organized this farmers’ field day to mark this important livestock day.

The world veterinary day is commemorated during the last week of April.  This day was declared by the world veterinary association in the year 2000.  Kenya veterinary association being affiliated to the world veterinary association has been participating in marking the world veterinary day in form of organizing annual farmers’ education and free animal health clinics since its inception.  Last year the world veterinary day was commemorated in Kisumu district with various farmers’ education and extension activities.  Various animals were treated, and others were vaccinated against common diseases in that area, a total of 2677 cattle, 386 sheep, 620 goats, 174 dogs, 2316 poultry and 22 donkeys were treated.  Since the field day site was a tsetse infested area, control of tsetse flies through, “crush pens” was emphasized.
As you are aware, one of the principal objectives of the Kenya veterinary association is to promote the welfare and health of all animals, with the overall goal of increasing production and productivity of the animals.  Increased production and productivity will enable the farmer to increase his food production for domestic consumption and sale of surplus produce.
The theme of today’s farmers’ field day is “mtunze punda akutunze” and “mtunze mbwa akulinde” that means if you care for the donkey it will also care for you and if you care for the dog it will guard you.  the main thrust of the millennium goals is to reduce the number of people living in poverty by half by the year 2015.  You may not realize that the donkey plays a role in poverty reduction. It plays a big role in this area and the whole country by reducing the burden of women carrying water, firewood and farm produce for their domestic and other uses.  By assisting the woman in this way, she can now do other farming activities to earn her family a living.  In some areas donkeys are used as draught animals for ploughing the land in preparation for planting food crops.  it is also used to ferry agricultural commodities to the market places and vice versa.

Ladies and gentlemen, the donkey is the most mistreated animal in the country despite the fact that it serves the farmers very diligently.  In this area, for example, donkeys are seen carrying heavy loads and being whipped mercilessly.  But one wonders how many hours such animals are allowed to feed! It is important to note that a healthy donkey will serve the owner well and even live longer. It is for this reason that my ministry has created a favorable environment for the health of the donkey through partnership with such organizations as the Donkey Sanctuary and the Kenya Society For Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (KSPCA).  Continued collaboration with these organizations and others will go along way in improving the welfare of the donkey, which has been neglected for a long time.  My ministry is currently reviewing the policy and legal frame work to enhance private sector development in line with the liberalization of livestock sub-sector.

Heifers

Ladies and gentlemen, the dog is a very important animal in this country.  People often keep dogs for guarding their homes because security is a prerequisite for development.  However, due to their social behaviors, dogs tend to look for companions elsewhere and unless they are properly confined, they are prone to the risk of contracting rabies.  it is therefore important to vaccinate dogs regularly against rabies that is a zoonotic disease, which can be spread to people, through dog-bite.  The sure way to control rabies in human beings is to control this disease in the dog, which is known to spread 95% of all rabies cases to human beings.  It is therefore gratifying to note that dogs are being vaccinated in this farmers’ field day.   In this regard, dogs should be fed properly to prevent them from straying to scavenge for food in market places.  Under the rabies act cap 365 of the laws of Kenya, any stray dog in a rabies control area should be destroyed.

Ladies and gentlemen, i wish to thank the Kenya veterinary association, the KSPCA, the KENDAT (the Kenya network for draught animal technology), the director of veterinary services and all of you who have contributed in one way or another in making this farmers’ field day a success.
Finally I must thank all the farmers for presenting their animals and coming to participate in this farmers’ field day.

Thank you and may God bless you.