Olkalou: Livestock farmers in Nyandarua County have been urged to adopt climate-smart solutions to support their livelihoods. During a Nyandarua County Farmers field day held in Olkalou on Monday, it was noted that inadequate fodder is one of the major challenges facing farmers in the county despite being one of the regions known for high milk production.
According to Kenya News Agency, while speaking during the farmers’ field day, Nyandarua Governor Dr. Moses Kiarie Badilisha highlighted that the sector faces threats due to issues of climate change, which has affected traditional farming practices and put the livelihoods of many small-scale farmers and pastoralists at risk. Governor Badilisha noted that farmers are making huge losses when their silage and other fodder go bad but emphasized that the field day could serve as a learning experience where farmers are introduced to new technologies and innovations that could assist in tackling farming-related challenges.
Innovators have developed a silage bagging solution designed to preserve silage by stopping oxygen transpiration, which in most cases may cause farmers to incur losses. During the field day, it was revealed that traditional methods of fodder storage, such as open-air drying or trench and pit silos, are often inefficient, leading to significant nutrient loss and wastage.
One of the new technologies introduced to the farmers is The Silage Master, which addresses these challenges by providing an innovative silage bagging solution designed to preserve silage by stopping oxygen transpiration-the main cause of silage spoilage. This solution creates a perfect anaerobic condition for fermentation, further reducing the deterioration of the nutritional quality of the fodder.
Ms. Teresiah Wanja from Silage Master3000 explained that the technology is aimed at making animal feeds affordable, sustainable, and improving the quality of animal feeds through modern preservation technology. ‘It is an advanced fodder processing machine that converts crops like maize and Napier grass into high-quality, vacuum-sealed silage,’ noted Ms. Wanja.
She added that Silage Master is a multi-tasking machine that chops fodder material into small pieces. The fodder is then transferred and mixed with other nutrients in a mixing bunker to make silage. The silage is weighed and filled into bags of between 25 to 50 kg, which is convenient to store, use, and transport. ‘Once this is done, the silage is then compressed and compacted automatically before it is vacuumed to remove air to create an anaerobic condition for essential bacteria growth,’ she added.
The bags are then double sealed to prevent air leaks and are stored ready for use after 15 days or preserved for a period of up to two years. Ms. Wanja also pointed out that beyond providing a practical solution for fodder preservation, education and training have also been incorporated and embraced. The training was meant to empower farmers to adopt modern, resilient farming practices that enhance productivity and reduce vulnerability to climate-induced shocks.
The skills gained in training also contribute to better livestock health and increased milk yields, which in turn enhance household nutrition, particularly for children who are most vulnerable to malnutrition.
