Homa Bay farmers hopeful goat project will boost food security

Pure Self Help Group Chairman Joas Okello was getting hold of a male goat of Saanen breed in his home at Bonde Village in Rachuonyo South Sub-county. [James Omoro, Standard]

Dairy goat farmers in Homa Bay County are expected to breathe a sigh of relief after starting a goat-rearing project to boost food security in the area.

This is after an organization, Kwame Otiende Foundation, began the goat production project.

The project that kicked off in Rachuonyo South Sub-county involves giving goat farmer groups exotic goats free of charge.

Male goats are used to mate both the exotic breed of dairy goats and the indigenous breeds.

Pure Self Help Group, a dairy goat farmer group based at Bonde Village, West Kamagak Location in Rachuonyo South Sub-county is the first beneficiary of the project.

The group received a mature male goat of Saanen breed to help them mate with their female goats.

Distribution of the goat is now seen as a sigh of relief to 54 goat keepers who belong to the group.

Pure Self Help Group Chairman Joas Okello said most of them had been suffering due to the lack of a male goat to mate with their female goats since they started the projects some months ago.

Okello said the goat has given them hope for breeding and multiplication of their goats.

"Getting an exotic he-goat that could mate with our female goats has been a serious challenge. This male goat has given us hope in our goat-rearing project," said Okello.

He said their objective is to enhance the production of goat milk.

"Our main aim is to start a cooperative society for the value addition of goat milk because we hope to produce a lot of milk in the future," Okello said.

Esther Omollo, a farmer, said the project is going to enhance food security in the area.

"The people of this area value goat milk highly because of its nutritional content. The dropping from the goats will be used as manure for crop production and this will enhance food production," said Esther.

David Omollo, a farmer, said the project will enable them to have money in their pockets.

"The money we will get from goat milk will help us in paying school fees and meeting other family needs. I urge farmers to venture into goat rearing," Omollo said.

Kwame Otiende Foundation Co-ordinator Alex Ogoro who was accompanied by the organsation officials Debra Kajo and Peter Otieno, led the distribution of the goat to the group.

Ogoro said they started the project to reduce poverty in the area.

He said agriculture is a sure way of empowering people economically.

"We decided to undertake this project to enhance food security among residents. Our principle objective is to empower our people to generate money and put food on their tables," Ogoro said.

Kajo said there are other components of the project which include supporting beekeepers, women and bodaboda riders empowerment.

"We have started with Rachuonyo South Sub-county and the project will expand to other parts of Homa Bay County," Kajo said.