Soon after beginning the initial preparation in late 2007, Kageno was ready to distribute its first batch of goats. As the manager of Kageno’s Bio-intensive Agriculture Project, I was responsible for ensuring that those who receive goats were well prepared for their upkeep. This entailed guaranteeing that the farmers had planted sufficient fodder to feed the goats, and mobilization of the clusters which would receive goats. Kageno proposed dispersing goats to clusters of four community members, to ensure continuity of the program. Because each cluster receives one goat to begin with, the cluster is collectively responsible for caring for the goat, providing a learning opportunity for those members newly introduced to diary goat rearing.
(First groups to receive the goats)
In partnership with Floresta, an American organization dedicated to environmentalism and bio-intensive agriculture, Kageno received 12 goats in November 2008, 11 females, which were to be distributed to individuals in the community, and Charlie, Kageno’s stud. After overseeing the successful transfer of goats and witnessing the excitement and upward mobility of the community, Kageno distributed the second batch of 10 goats in December 2008. The following month, we gave the five remaining goats to those clusters which had not yet received a goat. With all clusters possessing at least one goat, I chaired weekly meetings to discuss the successes and setbacks with the program.
After realizing we were off to an excellent start, it became obvious we had to plan for the future of the program, particularly the kids, which we anticipated would arrive soon. Thanks to Charlie’s predictable hard work, most of the goats quickly became pregnant, and Kageno was blessed with 21 kids. Because the intent of the program is to raise dairy goats, all male kids are sold and a female is purchased. Kageno decided the most effective method for distributing the kids required keeping them within the clusters their mother was assigned to. Considering the cluster has collectively been caring for the mother, once the kid arrives the next member in the cluster is sufficiently prepared to take over for the wellbeing of the kid.With demand for new goats ever increasing, Kageno applied for and received a grant to provide more goats to the community. Expecting between 15 and 25 goats, I have once again begun the preliminary steps of preparing the groups who will receive the goats, notably Njakare Women’s Group, Lak Nyiero, Kibisom and Matenga Self Help Group.
I chose Njakare Women’s Group because of their unequivocal dedication to the environment and horticultural activities. As a women’s group, their mission overlaps extensively with Kageno’s, particularly within our environmental and female economic empowerment initiatives. Impressed by their action plan, Kageno fulfilled their request for four goats, which will be delivered soon after they complete construction on the goat’s pens. I also decided to give four goats to Lak Nyiero, a local organization participating in environmental and horticultural activities, as well as health and sanitation.
Kibisom, a local orphanage and nursery school, will also receive the three goats they requested. Dedicated to early childhood development, and the importance of nutrition, I decided it was imperative Kibisom receives their goats so they can continue providing nutritious and balanced meals to the children who depend on them. Catering particularly to orphans and disadvantaged children, Kibisom is committed to empowering the youth with the education and health necessary to contribute to a productive future in Kenya. Many of the children were orphaned by HIV positive parents, and although those who are infected are receiving the necessary anti-retroviral treatments, lacking a healthy diet will further compromise one’s immune system. Kageno is gratified to be contributing to such a worthy cause.
Matenga Self Help Group, another environmental group which has a particular emphasis on livelihood activities, proposed building goat pens over their fishponds, in an innovative way to cut costs for feeding the fish. Exploiting the proximity to the lake, Matenga realized it was possible to combine their desire to set up fish farming enterprises with their interest in dairy goats. By building the goat pens above the fishponds, the goat’s waste will serve as nutritionally enriched food for the fish, essentially eliminating the cost required to feed the fish. Kageno hopes that if this proves successful, they too will be able to participate in this growing income-generating activity.
Written by,
Joseph Ogwella
Kageno Director of Environmental Activities
It is very good to hear! it was big deal for them but they did it, this really a interesting post, very nice to read it, thanks for the sharing,
Posted by: Online Degrees | 01 February 2010 at 04:45 AM