Farmers in Homa-Bay district up in arms against the killer cattle vaccination drugs which has killed hundreds of cows
Posted by African Press International on June 7, 2008
<BY Leo Odera Omolo
RESIDENTS of Rangwe constituency in Homa-Bay district are up in arms against the Ministry of Livestock Development field officials who they accused for having vaccinated the animals with wrong drug which has swept the entire region by killing nearly all the cattle, sheep and goats.
The vaccine could have been a wrong or expired drugs, and the situation is so pathetic as the residents loses animals on daily basis
The vaccination which an annual routine exercise against animal diseases was carried out by the veterinary staff from the Ministry between March and April this year. And as a result thousands of cattle have died of the yet do be diagnosed disease. The Ministry should urgent post a team of expert in the area before the entire stock is wiped out.
A member of the Luo Council of Elders in Kgana Location Mzee Stephen Othoo said many goats and sheep which were vaccinated at the same time with the cattle have been partly paralyzedand cannot walk upright.
Mzee Othoo told this writer that together with members of the Provincial Administration they have advised the farmers against eating the carcasses of the dead animals as such meat could turn to be health hazard to the community.
This is an epidemic which has spread like bush fire inall the location where the vaccination exercise was carried out. We are now appealing to the government to urgent send a team of expert to come and assess the situation.
Mzee Othoo who is also the national organizing secretary of the Luo Council has asked the farmers to seek for compensation from the government. Our animals plays important role in the daily life our people, ther3efore the government must compensate the local farmers for the loss of their animals.
If the government cannot react with speed and have the situation rectified in time, the entire animal population, particularly in areas where the vaccination exercises was carried out where her animals are facing extinction.
Mzee Othoo gave the breakdown of areas affected as follows; in all the four locations in Gem near Rangwe divisional headquarters. Hundreds of cattle have died in other locations such as Upper and Lower Kochia, Kagan and Gongo Locations. The plea of the farmers to the local veterinary officials have landedon the rock, and nothing seemed to be moving..
Mzee Othoo issued a stern warning to the government that unless the situation is rectified in time, the resident will have no option left to them, but to move to the court and institute legal suit requesting the court to compel the government to compensate them against the loss of their animals.
The Elder also expressed grave concern at what he termed as the mysterious invasion of some part of Rangwe Division by wild monkeys, which are destroying crops in the field. The wildcats, he said have gone to the extent of competing with human being on domestic food.
The monkeys, he said, are destroying ll the cash crops in the fields, especially peneapples maize,groundnuts, sweet potatoes as well cassavas.The animalslives in Got Nyataro and Abola small hills, but are there in their hundreds competing for the scarce natural wild fruits. The game officials should come and drives them away or destroy them as the animals have increasingly becoming a real menace to the residents of Kagan locations.
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