February 20, 2024

Kenya's measures for livestock production targeted at enabling higher returns for farmers

Kenya is working on elaborate policies and measures aimed at creating a favourable environment for livestock production in the country, said Kenyan Livestock Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke.

This action will lead to higher returns for farmers.

Among the key aspects to be improved are animal breeding and husbandry, fodder farming, value addition and disease control.

Other interventions include the introduction of a farmers' insurance programme, the creation of the Kenya Leather Development Council and the establishment of regional dairy processing plants closer to the farmers and other stakeholders, hence reducing production costs.

Speaking in Garissa, Mueke reiterated the importance of value addition on the livestock products which he said would bring more revenue and profit to the farmers. He pointed out the move will create employment opportunities for thousands of people countrywide by ensuring that they create local brands from their resources.

On disease control, Mueke said the government would open offices in the counties, and create laboratories for fast testing and quick reporting of outbreaks.

"The government did a good job preventatively by purchasing 1.4 million vaccines for the 20 counties which were hotspots that we had identified to be at risk of the Rift Valley Fever and the blue tongue disease for the smaller cows," Mueke added. "This intervention has worked because we only have one case which is yet to be confirmed from the laboratory tests."

Meanwhile, National Assembly Livestock Committee chairperson John Mutunga urged livestock farmers to invest in skins and hides of their livestock. He revealed that the leather-tanning industry would provide an avenue for higher returns and that the value of the entire animal is lower than the value of the skin.

- Kenya News Agency