Kenya-Problems in farming.

KENYA-PROBLEMS IN FARMING REGIONS.

Illegal trade in wild flora and fauna has been cited a threat some of the wildlife resources, which contributes significantly to the national economy.Minister for Forestry and Wildlife Dr. Noah Wekesa said his ministry was seeking for cooperation with its counterparts in other countries to combat the crime.He observed that Kenya could not adequately protect the resources and was thus after forming a solid front with other countries in line with the Lusaka agreement to which Kenya was a signatory.Wekesa said this in a speech read on his behalf by his Assistant Minister Mr. Josephat Nanok during the Bureau of the ninth Governing council of the Lusaka agreement Task Force at Laico Regency in Nairobi Monday.He said the crime was a big threat to wildlife, which accounts for about 70 per cent of gross tourism earnings and 25 per cent of the gross domestic product.He further added that poverty reduction and environmental production were also an issue of concern that gives issues of major concern globally and locally describing the meeting as timely on the implementation of the Lusaka Agreement."We will do all within our means to support the implementation of the agreement and ensure that comply with all obligations set in the agreement", Wekesa said."Large numbers of Kenyans live on less than a dollar per day and about 75% of them live in rural areas," he said.The government, he said, will continue to provide a conducive environment for operation to the taskforce and work closely with it.Elsewhere, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel have arrested six suspected poachers and recovered large quantities of game meat in two separate incidents in Taita district.Three of the suspects were apprehended in Kasigau location with giraffe meat while the rest were intercepted with impala meat by rangers at Kulala area near MacKinnon town.Also recovered by the rangers were crude weapons which the suspects used to kill the animals.This comes barely three days after famine-stricken villagers in Bughuta area, Nyangala division scrambled for free game meat after rangers gunned down four rogue buffalos. The persistent food scarcity and escalating food prices has led to an increase in subsistence poaching and illegal bush meat trade mainly in the lowland areas bordering the wildlife habitats. The Tsavo East National Park Senior Warden Cyrus Muriithi confirmed the poaching incident saying the suspects were captured by rangers who laid an ambush following a tip off.Muriithi said the suspects would be taken to court soon to face charges of poaching, a vice he strongly condemned saying it was a major set back to conservation efforts in the area.He decried widespread sale and consumption of bush meat adding that the wildlife body would not relent in its efforts to control the malpractice.The warden cautioned residents against eating uninspected game meat as it could expose them to serious health risk. Investigations revealed that loads of game meats are now finding their way into local urban centres among them Mwatate, Maktau, Maungu and even Mombasa.Dealers in bush meat sometimes peddle the illegal meat disguised as water or charcoal vendors in urban centres to avert detection by security personnel.Conservationist decried the escalation in subsistence poaching saying it was jeopardizing proposed investment in community based eco-tourism enterprises in local ranches which harbor 70 per cent of the wildlife resources in the district.