Nakuru pig farmers decry high cost of operation crippling business

Pig farmers in Nakuru County have decried the high cost of production needed to rear swine citing that the expenses are crippling their business.

The development comes barely a week after the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation warned that the country’s agricultural sector will need time to fully recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Mimi langu nina sikitiko hasa kwa ufugaji wa nguruwe iko na gharama kubwa sana. Nguruwe hawana soko kwa sasa kutoka Corona iingie soko yake inaenda ikididimia,” one of the farmers said in a TV interview.

According to the farmers, they are contemplating on abandoning the pig rearing business completely in favour of other farming methods.   

“Wakati huo tulikuwa tunanunua KG moja around Ksh.310 – Ksh.350. Future yake iko very dim kwa sababu kila ukiongea na wakulima wenzangu wenye wanafuga nguruwe juu hii area hauwezi kosa nguruwe kutoka Ksh.5000 plus lakini kila mtu ako desperate. Ukiulizia unaskia kuna watu wanataka kufagia zote ziendee sijui nitafanya nini.”

The farmers consequently faulted the quality of pig food that is currently available in the region.

“Shida niko nayo ni chakula bei iko juu. Ata saa zingine tukizipata mahali tunazipata si sawa. Nafikiria ni chakula fake kwa sababu kuna wakati unapea nguruwe wanakataa kukula,” another farmer said.