By Nancy Masit
nancymasit80@gmail.com
Narok County Governor Patrick ole Ntutu has held talks with Netherlands Government on forage production.
Ole Ntutu and his deputy Tamalinye Koech met with representatives of the Netherlands Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands and SNV, with whom they discussed dynamics of climate change with key focus was on agro-pastoralists.
Pim Van Der Male who is the First Secretary Water and Food Security led the said that Netherlands has been working on the strategic plan and has recognized the effects of climate change in Kenya particularly in dry areas especially Narok.
Program manager in Integrated and Climate Smart Innovation for Agro pastoralist economies and Landscapes in Kenya’s ASALS Joseph Rono said that they focus on fodder improvement for agro pastoralists in Narok inorder to improve milk production.
He added that Climate Change has sent countries and communities around the world in a spin of climate action for human survival.
Governor Ntutu said that the they have been taking their livestock to be slaughtered in Nairobi and urged SNV to partner with the County Government in building a modern abbatoir .
He added that his administration will do it differently through improving fodder resources and establishing value addition processing units in both dairy and beef.
He emphasized for the need for development partners like the Netherlands government and SNV can play a crucial role in promoting this plan which is entrenched in Governor’s Manifesto and welcomed development partners to collaborate with his government in promoting these interventions.
He concluded by saying that water was another important issue in Narok County that required similar support.
Narom Director for Livestock David Naisho thanked the visitors and promised to work with them so that they can achieve their planned objectives and he also said the county has a good working relationship with SNV and KALRO.
SNV Kenya and Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) in collaboration with the County Government of Narok, have implemented the Integrated and Smart Climate Innovations for Agro-Pastoralists Economies and Landscapes in Kenya’s ASALs project (ICSIAPL).
The project is funded by the European Union under the DeSIRA initiative, with co-funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.