The global call for improved and environmentally sound practices is becoming an important factor in national and global development agenda. There are numerous efforts to develop, promote and support practices and systems that would ensure high and sustainable productive capacity of natural resources. With current efforts of increasing productivity, animals fall at the centre of development, whether as food or work animals. As technology advances and climate change becomes increasingly apparent, agriculture and livestock sectors are becoming increasingly important especially for Africa’s rural and general development. Attached to global warming and improved livelihoods, is the need to improve the welfare of working animals as a sure way of providing a viable "smokeless" technology for farm and rural transport work.
The global market place for trade and other exchange is influenced by new interests in tracking sources of agricultural and livestock products, presenting capacity to judge extents to which human and animal welfare have been put into consideration in production systems. Presently, there is real concern over the quality of human welfare for workers in the horticultural industry in our region. Kenya and other countries in the region will soon be unable to sell their meat, poultry and fish products in the national and international markets, if inhumane (poor or adverse) animal welfare conditions will have been applied in production, marketing and processing systems.
In 2005, world leaders were urged to recognize that animals are sentient and suffer as much as appreciate humane treatment by man. The call was made at the two day conference "From Darwin to Dawkins: the science and implications of animal sentience", organized in March (2005) by the Compassion in World Farming Trust. The sitting, attended by 600 delegates and with speakers from 50 nations, addressed the UN, the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) and members of governments (among others) present. The evidence presented at the conference about the ability of animals to think, feel and experience emotions was overwhelming as much as humbling. Another Conference on the same was later held in Chad, with the same message. A recent meeting in Europe banned the caging of layers in poultry farms among other ongoing concerns including setting animal welfare standards, health and welfare services, disaster mitigation and human animal conflict, business growth and animal welfare policy issues.
Animal Welfare Action Kenya (AWAKE) in collaboration with Animal Traction Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (ATNESA) hosted the First Regional Workshop on Animal Welfare, held in Nairobi, Kenya from 24th to 27th September 2007.The workshop was designed to share information, experiences and efforts in improving animal welfare across disciplines, economic sectors and geographical locations. It was therefore an effective forum for discussions and plans that linked animal productivity, welfare, livelihoods and the environment. It also packaged viable integrated strategies and facilitated their dissemination in order to enhance livelihoods and help preserve the environment.
During the workshop, AWAKE hosted an Animal Welfare Day that took the form of an animal welfare public sensitization forum and animal clinic where dogs, donkeys and other animals were vaccinated and treated. This occasion helped bring practical animal welfare concerns to the fore. It was graced by senior government officials and other dignitaries.
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