Residents have been urged to embrace fodder production so as to revolutionise livestock export trade at the new Lamu Port.
The Sh310 billion port, which was operationalised on May 20, 2021, introduced livestock export trade from Lamu to Oman in October 2022.
Lamu Deputy Governor Raphael Munyua said the major challenge at the port has been the lack of fodder, necessitating purchase from other counties like Laikipia, Narok and Kajiado.
“You cannot be food secure if you have no reservoir for fodder. We have had ships docking at the Lamu port to ferry livestock to Oman but unfortunately, those vessels can’t leave immediately since the animals have no food. It's a big challenge that needs to be addressed,” Munyua said.
So far, at least 25,000 heads of livestock, including camels, cattle, sheep, and goats have been ferried to Oman aboard the Togolese livestock-carrier vessel, MV Banyas 1.
If taken seriously, fodder farming will help address the herder-farmer conflicts that are common in the county, especially during dry seasons.
“And that’s why we are encouraging farmers here to embrace fodder farming. Take advantage of the livestock export trade at the port to grow fodder for both subsistence and commercial purposes,”he said.
The Lamu community, particularly the pastoralists, should stop relying totally on rain-fed pasture, the deputy governor added.
“Let’s embrace fodder production as a way of ensuring our livestock have pasture, even during periods of drought. And this will increase milk production and at the same time, curb the unnecessary feuds between herders and farmers.”
Munyua said Kenya needs to hold more conversations around fodder security and encourage farmers to plunge into the sector, which is not heavily invested in.
Muhumed Kalmei, chairperson of the Lamu Pastoralists Community, welcomed the idea.
Kalmei said they will need to be empowered, including providing them with grazing corridors, the skills and expertise to enable them grow fodder.
“We’re ready, as pastoralists, to turn those grazing corridors into fodder growing zones provided we’re enlightened on how to do it,” he said.
