Bungoma County has launched a Sh29.2 million E-Voucher cattle vaccination and identification programme aimed at protecting local livestock from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and boosting farmers’ market access.
Speaking during the launch at Wabukhonyi in Ndivisi Ward on October 2, Governor Kenneth Lusaka said the county targets to vaccinate about 266,000 cattle against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), under the initiative, which is anchored on an E-Voucher subsidy system.
“This programme is about protecting our farmers from losses and improving market access. Every cow in the region will be registered, identified, and monitored through modern technology to enhance traceability and animal health,” Lusaka said.
He said the new approach departs from the traditional mass vaccination model by engaging 58 private animal health practitioners to work alongside government veterinarians in a door-to-door campaign.
Under the scheme, farmers will pay Sh50 per animal while the county government tops up Sh110 as a subsidy.
The programme also integrates a cattle identification system through the Mifugo 360 Super App, which will digitally link each cow to its owner. According to the county, this system is expected to curb livestock theft, improve disease monitoring, and open structured markets for farmers.
Lusaka said the programme was designed to protect farmers from losses and establish a foundation for sustainable livestock farming and better incomes.
He further urged farmers to embrace the initiative, warning that failing to vaccinate and register their animals could expose them to unnecessary risks.
“The move marks a milestone effort to modernise agriculture and secure livelihoods in a county where livestock rearing remains a backbone of the rural economy,” he said.
In addition, Lusaka revealed that the county plans wider agricultural reforms, including the establishment of ward-based cooperatives and strengthening of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to improve access to credit and organised markets.