Knowledge and practices of the residents living along the Nairobi river riparian on the use of the contaminated river for farming and its effects on animal reproduction

Abstract

Residents practising pig farming along the Nairobi River Riparian in Kenyawere interviewed to evaluate theirknowledge and practices on the use of the contaminated riverfor farming and its effects on animal reproduction. Eighty (80) farms were purposively selected and questionnaires administered to the pig owners as respondents.Majority (72.5%) were involved in urban farming as supplementary source of income while the rest had farming as their main occupation. Over a third of them (38.8%) had attained secondary level of education. Over forty percent (42.5%, N=34) respondents used the contaminated river for pig farming. The main reason cited for the use of the river water for farming were that it is a free source and readily available (N=20).The main reproductive effect noted on the male pigs was abdominally testes. The reproductive defect points towards environmental estrogen toxicant within the water of the Nairobi riversuggesting the residents need to be made aware of the potential danger of the use of the contaminated water for farming.