KAKAMEGA – The Kakamega County administration is set to implement a comprehensive program aimed at bolstering pig farming in the region, a move designed to enhance food security and promote wealth creation among local farmers.
According to Kenya News Agency, Governor Fernandes Barasa announced the initiative, which includes offering extension services and pigs to farmers to increase their livestock and explore market opportunities for pig products. The program also plans to provide subsidized feeds and revive the pig slaughterhouse in Ikolomani Sub County, which had ceased operations due to a lack of sufficient stock.
The governor emphasized that his administration would work to engage investors and source markets for pig products on behalf of farmers, intending to maximize their profits. He highlighted the lucrative value chains in pig farming, including the production of skin, pork, and high-quality manure, which can be used to generate biogas for both domestic and commercial purposes.
According to Governor Barasa, pig farming is identified as one of the most profitable agricultural ventures due to pigs’ high reproductive rate, yielding up to ten piglets per litter. He further noted the short gestation period of pigs, approximately three months, three weeks, and three days, along with their rapid maturation in just six months.
In the first phase of the program, farmers in Navakholo, Shinyalu, Ikolomani, and Lurambi sub-counties have already received benefits from the distribution exercise. The governor mentioned that large white and duroc pig breeds were selected for distribution to farmers due to their quick adaptability to the regional climate.
Speaking in the county, Governor Barasa revealed plans for a subsequent distribution phase to extend the program’s reach to farmers in the remaining sub-counties. To ensure the sustainability of the project, a pass-on method will be employed, where beneficiaries who receive pigs are expected to pass on four piglets to other farmers after their pigs give birth.
Additionally, the county government has established a pig multiplication center at the Bukura Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) through the Department of Agriculture, further supporting the initiative’s long-term goals.