Mr. Marigi is a small scale farmer from the Weruini area that borders the south western part of Ol Pejeta. He is the latest beneficiary of our artificial insemination programme. Mr. Marigi is a cattle breeder, but his herd consists of local cattle breeds that are prone to disease and low milk yields. As a result, he incurs high losses, especially during times of drought. Through our agricultural extension services, Mr. Marigi was able to have his cows artificially inseminated by a purebred Ayrshire bull. The process was carried out by Ol Pejeta’s livestock extension officers in April 2015. Last month, Mr. Marigi welcomed the results – two healthy Ayrshire calves. The Ayrshire breeds are renowned for their resistance to diseases and high milk productivity, they are also easy to maintain and feed well even in dry conditions. This makes them cost-effective to keep, which will help Mr. Marigi to gain increased income from his cattle.

In an attempt to maximize the number of farmers with more productive cattle breeds, our AI services are extremely affordable. One service goes for Ksh. 400 as opposed to Ksh. 1500 by other private inseminators in Nanyuki.  Many of the people living on Ol Pejeta’s borders are pastoralists, and by offering them affordable insemination services, we hope to improve cattle breeds in the area. This will help boost the local economy, and help farmers to get more out of their cattle.

To learn more about the development initiatives that Ol Pejeta is undertaking in collaboration with the neighbouring communities. Please visit our Community page