Devoted to the farmer and their cow: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) visit to Biotech’s research project sites

The Dairy Genetics East Africa (DGEA) project’s success hinges on the participation of small holders dairy farmers and their willingness to share their knowledge and practices.  Selected project sites include Kaptumo, Siongiroi, Meteitei, Kabras, Butere/Khwisero in Kenya and Wakiso, Bushyenyi in Uganda.  On 27^th of June, a field trip in the Kenyan sites to monitor animal performance progress also doubled up as an opportunity for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) representatives, Gregg BeVier and Lee Klejtnot, to visit selected farmers.  A group of 6 farmers of varying socioeconomic backgrounds and dairy experience shared their livestock keeping experiences, challenges and opportunities with the Gates Foundation representatives and ILRI staff.

Gregg and Lee also had an opportunity to visit the People, Animals and their Zoonoses (PAZ) project sites in Busia Kenya on the 28^th of June. This project is studying zoonotic diseases with the aim of raising the levels of health in poor rural communities.

Kenya livestock learning trip video

Watch the below video to find out in details how this experience was for the BMGF representatives, hear what the farmers said they would invest in if they were given USD 1000 and see some of the local techniques that farmers apply in daily household activities.

Picture review of the visit

Dairy Genetics East Africa (DGEA) project staff, Roulex Odhiambo and Denis Mujibi talking with a farmer (middle)

Project team inspecting a cow shed 

From right: Steve Staal and Okeyo Mwai, ILRI scientists discussing supplementary feeds used by the farmer

Roulex Odhiambo, DGEA project site coordinator for Butere and Khwisero study sites of Western Kenya taking cow’s body length measurements

Vincent Oloo, James Akoko and Lazarus Omoto, ILRI animal health staff with the People, Animals and their Zoonoses (PAZ) project carrying out famacha on a cow

PAZ  medical team taking samples from people

Project team taking time to visit and talk with a farmer participating in the DGEA project

Picture of the week: Field work means we also get very serious with our livestock

Gregg BeVier of BMGF, Vish Nene of ILRI and Lee Klejtnot of BMGF visiting the PAZ project site in Busia

To view all the pictures click HERE

Click on the below links to find out more about these projects:

• Field visit video: Kenya Livestock Learning Trip
• DGEA project flier
• Zoonotic and Emerging Disease

Photo credit: Lee Klejtnot/BMGF , Eric Fevre/ILRI