The drought situation in the country has led to a loss of 2.5 million livestock to starvation that’s a menace in the country after a lack of rainfall for the last two-three years.
In an event of the launch of livestock and dairy farmer production catalogs, Principal Secretary of Livestock Harry Kimutai, said livestock farmers have been dealt a big blow through the loss of their livestock for the last four seasons.
The PS said the ongoing four days dairy farmers feeding manual program training in Mombasa is expected to come out with recommendations that will address the challenges of drought-affected areas.
Citing that livestock in 29 counties are facing a shortage of pasture and water and the piloting intervention program is supposed to begin in 14 ASAL counties.
The PS revealed the government’s intervention through an off-take program at Kenya Meat Commission as well as looking for a market to export livestock to other countries. He emphasized the plans of investing in climate-smart agriculture and livestock production as a last solution underway.
Judy Odongo, Deputy Chief of Party USAID Kenya crops and dairy Market system project (KCDMS) the program under the banner of sustainable food systems transformation agenda making climate-smart livestock production real is supposed to empower the farmers on livestock production.
Judy further detailed the collaboration program sponsored by USAID in partnership with the government through the state department of Livestock as implementers.
A five-year plan program that is focusing on animal breeding, animal nutrition, and the market for farmers’ livestock produce, milk, and their by-products.
USAID Deputy Chief of Party said the program has been rolled up in the counties of kitui, makueni, Taita-Taveta, and all Western counties.
Judy emphasized that the joint partnership has developed catalog extension training materials on dairy cattle nutrition for farmers and livestock government extension officers on a practical approach to dairy cattle feeding to help in implementing innovative strategies for improving dairy productivity.
