Vets and Extension: Good Career Killed by Virtual Technology
Kelvin Wairimu 
In the 20th century, being a typist was a highly sought-after career. Similarly, early computer experts were in high demand as Kenya underwent rapid technological transformation. As technology continued to evolve, several careers naturally became obsolete in the 21st century.
This transformation has significantly impacted the agricultural industry, with most government agencies struggling to formulate policies that are compatible with the needs of farmers.
The younger generation is well-informed and empowered. They are aware of effective and ineffective practices. For instance, farmers no longer require the physical presence of extension officers for training.
They can receive training through platforms like Zoom, rendering many extension officers jobless in Kenya. Consequently, the visits by extension officers to farms have drastically reduced compared to the 1990s.
This trend extends to dairy, poultry, piggery, and goat farming. Farmers are now less reliant on veterinarians. Through technology, a farmer can seek advice from a veterinarian in the USA and treat their livestock.
Farmers are carrying out diagnoses, purchasing medicines, and administering treatments with the guidance provided online. Pig farmers are now independently carrying out procedures such as administering iron, tooth clipping, and tail docking.
As a result, many experienced veterinarians are struggling and facing unemployment. Furthermore, training institutions, such as Agricultural Training Colleges (ATCs) and Animal Health And Industry Training Institute (AHITIs), are still rooted in a 20th-century mindset and have not fully embraced current technology.
The prevalent belief is centred around providing training and establishing regulatory bodies to oversee professional practices. However, this overlooks the fact that farmers have the right to make decisions about their livestock.
At present, farmers have the legal right to take legal action against a veterinarian for trespassing.
The critical question is:
What happens when a farmer chooses to treat their own livestock? In response, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), the governing body mandated to regulate veterinary pharmacy, has prohibited the sale of injectable medicines to farmers.
However, in Kenya, customers often have the final say, especially during challenging economic times. Moreover, farmers only need to pay a small fee to acquire veterinary medicines.
In conclusion, the Kenya Veterinary Board, AHITI, ATCs, and VMD must adapt to the changing landscape to prevent their careers from becoming obsolete. It’s surprising that in this age of information, farmers are often more knowledgeable than qualified veterinarians.
Additionally, some veterinary services, such as tele-veterinary, have been replaced by technology. For instance, a tele-vet can offer medical advice via calls, texts, or videos on issues such as allergy relief, nutrition, parasite control, and other clinical matters.
Furthermore, in the context of Continuous Professional Development (CPD), do these regulatory bodies prioritize assessing professional performance? According to the Kenya Veterinary Board, Continuous Professional Development (CPD) activities aim to enhance and maintain the knowledge, skills, and professional competence of all Veterinary Surgeons (VS) and Veterinary Para-professionals (VP).
Many veterinary cooperatives have collapsed, and those that remain are facing financial difficulties. Notably, the declining attendance at CPD events every year reflects the challenging environment for veterinary careers.
This should serve as a wake-up call for these institutions to evolve or face obsolescence. In this era of readily available information, embracing change is essential.
Perhaps it’s time to acknowledge this reality and consider training farmers in safe diagnosis and treatment. If someone in the Netherlands is training local farmers, why can’t AHITI do the same?
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