Under the new arrangement, introduced early this year, farmers will bear the cost of the vaccines, while the government will continue to fund the services of veterinary officers administering the vaccines, as well as the transportation and cold chain costs involved in the vaccine distribution process.
By Moses Lokeris
A section of livestock farmers in Kotido District are raising concerns over a new cost-sharing policy that requires them to for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines, which were previously free.
Currently, the government purchases FMD vaccines using taxpayers’ money and farmers get the vaccines at no cost.
However, under the new arrangement, introduced early this year by the Ministry of Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), farmers will bear the cost of the vaccines, while the government will continue to fund the services of veterinary officers administering the vaccines, as well as the transportation and cold chain costs involved in the vaccine distribution process.
Dr. Joseph Longoli, the Kotido District Veterinary said that under the new policy, farmers will be required to pay Shs 8000 per dose of vaccine administered to each cattle and Shs3, 000 for goat and sheep.
Longoli added the district is currently enrolling farmers into the program ahead of the official launch in September this year.
However, farmers have expressed concern over the set fee for the vaccines, suggesting that the cost might be unaffordable for many farmers with even some claiming that they are not aware of this development.
Lourien Lokiru, a farmer from Namejo told our reporter that the fee attached per animal to be vaccinated is too high since some farmers own many herds of cattle.
Lopor Lokichodio, a cattle farmer in Kotyang suggests that the government start with a fee of Shs 3,000 per dose, and gradually increase it as farmers become more accustomed to the new policy
Peter Lokol Lowoyathiya, a cattle farmer form Nakapelimoru Sub-County, said that he and his other kraal members are not aware about the FMD cost sharing scheme since no awareness campaign has been done by the responsible officers.
He called on the office of the District Veterinary Officer to roll out an awareness campaign to sensitize farmers about the programme before it’s rolled out or else it will flop.
