By Veronica Bosibori
Nakuru County livestock farmers are set to benefit from telehealth veterinary services, a move that seeks to bridge the shortage of extension service providers in the region.
A new partnership between the County Government, Enigma Big Data Labs, and VetNOW, promises to revolutionise agricultural practices and service delivery in the region, with rural farmers benefiting from animal health services, a phone call away.
The collaboration will introduce a project management platform, an e-commerce platform for farmers’ products, a revenue optimisation platform, and an e-marketing platform tailored specifically for the county’s unique agricultural products.
VetNOW, an animal health solutions provider, will enhance farmers’ access to top-tier animal health services, particularly for small-scale livestock producers.
Meanwhile, Enigma Big Data Labs, a tech giant which prides itself on edge computing and Internet of Things deployment, will apply its expertise in advanced technology to develop innovative solutions that will support the county’s agricultural goals.
Nakuru County Secretary Dr. Samuel Mwaura yesterday emphasised that the partnership would transform agricultural data management, promote sustainable farming practices, and ultimately empower farmers to enhance productivity and contribute to the county’s sustainable development.
“This platform, if actualised, will provide mobile-based support and enhanced communication between livestock farmers, veterinarians, and veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs), to afford farmers access to vital information regarding disease awareness, preventive care, record keeping, and regulatory compliance,” announced VetNow CEO Dr. Apryle Horbal.
Advancement in technology and the penetration of smart mobile phones in rural Kenya have created a link in which animal owners, veterinary doctors, and veterinary paraprofessionals could engage through a regulatory-compliant cloud technology, that VetNOW offers.
“In many rural Kenyan communities, it is not uncommon for farmers to have to wait for days, if not weeks, for their animals to receive proper care. The ability to speak with a veterinarian immediately could be the difference in a farm losing one or all of its livestock. This prompt veterinary care, in addition to VetNOW’s rapid information distribution, is crucial in isolating and containing diseases,” added Dr. Alexis Kiers, Vice President of Operations and Engagement at VetNow, Kenya.
Nakuru County is well endowed in the livestock sector, with more farmers rearing cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry. The dairy sector boasts an upward of Sh8.8 billion in milk sales, a potential that needs to be exploited further to reap more.
John Kamau