Mega fodder production project unveiled in Tana River

An agro-industrial value chain enterprise has unveiled an ambitious large-scale lucerne fodder production project that is set to put Tana River county on the regional map as an agricultural hub.

The project, implemented jointly by Stella Mundi (PVT) Ltd, the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority (NWHSA) and Tana River county government, will harness irrigation to convert the vast stretches of Tana River’s semi-arid land into productive farmland.

Lucerne farming involves cultivating a perennial legume widely known as alfalfa, primarily for high-protein livestock feed.

Lucerne, also known as ‘Queen of forages’, is incredibly valuable for its rapid growth, deep taproot that fixes nitrogen in the soil, and crude protein content of between 18-24 per cent.

It is highly digestible and rich in vitamin, minerals, and crude proteins, and is used to fee dairy cattle, goats, sheep, and rabbits, often reducing the need for expensive commercial concentrates.

Speaking during the unveiling of the project in Tana River on Friday, Stella Mundi managing director Mayor Mangeya said the project will rely on the expertise of the NWHSA in developing water security infrastructure.

Water will be drawn from the Tana River through an extensive pipeline network to support irrigation throughout the project.

“The development will be implemented in four phases, beginning with commercial lucerne production before expanding into value addition and livestock farming,” Mangeya said.

In the second phase, lucerne production will increase to 7,000 hectares alongside the construction of a modern feed mill to process, blend and fortify livestock feed locally.

Mangeya said the third phase will expand production to 12,000 hectares to support increased exports, while the fourth phase will establish a livestock platform focusing on beef cattle, goats and dairy production.

The project is designed to meet the growing demand for quality livestock feed in Middle Eastern markets, where dairy farmers and livestock producers depend heavily on imported fodder.

According to Mangeya, the investment is also expected to generate direct financial benefits for the local community through a proposed Sovereign Fund Fee equivalent to two per cent of the project's topline revenue as compensation for land contributed to the initiative.

“The county government and local communities are projected to earn about USD2 million (about Sh259 million) in topline revenue during the first five years and approximately USD4 million (about Sh518 million) within the first 10 years of operation.

The project is expected to further attract hundreds of millions in investment, create jobs for the locals and position Tana River as a key livestock feed production hub in East Africa.

NWHSA CEO Julius Mugun and chairperson Jane Mwikali welcomed the investment, saying it will significantly improve livelihoods in Tana River county.

The two said the project will unlock new economic opportunities through agriculture, create employment for local residents, boost exports and strengthen food security while supporting Kenya's Vision 2030 and the country's broader rural development agenda.

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

The introduction of commercial lucerne farming in Tana River county will change the semi-arid county into one of the major agricultural hubs in East Africa. The initiative is designed to improve water harvesting and storage, support year-round irrigation, expand commercial fodder production and strengthen the county's resilience to climate change.