Busia MCAs have lauded governor Ojaamong’s move to approve their proposal of ensuring each ward in the county has a heifer.
They said this will boost milk production.
Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi lauded the initiative.
Speaking in Angurai North Ward in Teso North, where he presided over the distribution of 16 in calf (expectant) dairy heifers to groups in the ward, Mulomi said the MCAs who have procured a total of 63 dairy heifers for individuals and groups in their areas of jurisdiction should be lauded.
“This will supplement the County Government’s efforts of making sure the County has enough milk. We will not buy milk from Uganda and other Counties,” he said.
The DG said area MCA and Deputy Speaker Lawrence Okaale’s target of buying a total of 100 heifers in the next one year is a move in the right direction.
Mulomi said the county has a milk deficiency of 60,000 litres.
Besides meeting the milk deficit, the DG said one heifer can yield an average of Sh200, 000 per year which can turn around the economy of the county.
Okaale said the dairy promotion program will benefit groups in his ward.
The program has also been rolled out in Bukhayo North/Walatsi ward with 20 heifers and Malaba North with 10.
Under the arrangement, the first person will own the cow and after two deliveries the calves will be donated to other members of the group, and the cycle continues.
Okaale said the County through the Ward Fund bought 16 heifers with plans to buy 30 more in the next financial year.
“I managed to buy eight heifers through my own initiatives. I am making similar plans to buy 10 more, thus the target of 100,” he said.
Agriculture Executive Dr Moses Osia and Chief Officers in the Department Ruth Mukhongo and Engineer Richard Achiambo said such initiatives will improve agribusiness.