Livestock farmers in remote villages in Gulu have tasked the government to revamp veterinary services in a bid to improve access which was flourishing during the 1970s and 80.
The demand by farmers in rural areas comes amid plans by the government to restock Acholi, Lango, Teso and West Nile sub regions after years of cattle rustling, thefts and mass displacement of households who practice both pastoralism and subsistence agriculture.
Early last year, the government earmarked Shs20 billion for cattle restocking in the north under the Peace Recovery and Development Plan.
The seven districts in Acholi shared Shs5 billion to implement the cattle restocking programme in Acholi, targeting mainly former combatants, orphans, former abductees, child-headed families, child mothers, widows and elderly persons.
So far, the central government under the Office of the Prime Minister Office (OPM) has injected Shs40 billion into the program being implemented under the Peace Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP).
Mr Jacob Onek, 47, a local cattle keeper in Paibono village, in Gulu district said, “Despite the growing number of cattle in Gulu district, veterinary services are still very limited. And yet if all the diseased animals are treated, the growth rate would improve.”
Onek says fellow farmers have seen their animals waste away since they are unable to pay between Shs3, 000-Shs7, 000 to service providers.
He noted that as a result, a number of animals have died in his village especially during the onset of the rain between April- June when there is high worm infestation in the grazing grounds.
In February last year, Onek had to part with Shs84, 000 in order to treat his 12 heads of cattle, something he described as a big burden to poor rural families.
Mr Charles Okot, 42, another cattle farmer in Gulu says he has lost some of his cattle during dry season to ticks due to the high cost of treatment.
Okot says, “To get quality treatment from a qualified veterinary doctor; I have to go to Gulu town, a distance of 12 miles from my small kraal.”
Okot says, “I have resorted to buying drugs from veterinary shops during market days or from Gulu town because I cannot afford to pay the veterinarians.”
The farmers say some of the ill-health among domestic animals are treatable if detected early enough and called on government to speed up rehabilitation of vet centers destroyed during the insurgency so that their source of livelihoods are not destroyed.
The LCV Councillor for Patiko Sub County, Mr Patrick Komakech faulted government for always responding during emergencies only instead of extending such services to rural areas where it is much needed.
Komakech explained that, “There is always a long bureaucratic process in making referrals in case of outbreak of diseases such as east coast fever and Nagana.”
He noted that, “In the process, farmers have lost a big number of animals and yet that is their source of livelihoods.”
But Dr. Martin Aliker, one of the three vet officers with Gulu district local government admitted that the number of veterinary specialists in the region is thin but urged farmers adhere to strict veterinary principals in order to keep their animals free from diseases.
Dr. Aliker says, “Farmers should not wait until the animals are sick in order to look for vet services.”
His counterpart from Nwoya District, Dr James Okwir, noted that the problem has been aggravated by the scrapping off of the National Agricultural Advisory Services (Naads) extension workers at sub-county level.
“After the service providers were laid off, this escalated the challenge of livestock management and monitoring in the districts.”
With the ongoing restocking programs by both the government and local farmers in Acholi sub region, there are close to 10,000 animals and birds, and these has stimulated demand for animal health services.
