- Kimtai says the government is aware of the challenges pig, dairy and poultry farmers are facing due to the high cost of animal feed.
- PS says they are committed to finding a quick solution to the problem.
Image: FILE
The Ministry of Agriculture will next week meet with dairy, poultry and pig value chain players to seek a solution to the increasing cost and scarcity of raw materials for animal feed.
Livestock PS Harry Kimtai told the Star on Thursday that the government is aware of the challenges pig, dairy and poultry farmers are facing because of the high cost of animal feed, adding that they are committed to finding a quick solution to the problem.
Kimtai said he will be meeting with all stakeholders in the value chains next week to help address the crisis and get a solution that will cushion farmers against the high costs of feed.
“We had a meeting with the private sector this week and we agreed to meet again next week with all the stakeholders so that we conclude that issue. We will discuss the options on how to support the value chain players,” the PS said.
The scarcity and high cost of raw materials in the country have led to the skyrocketing prices of animal feed by close to a high of Sh500.
The Association of Kenya Animal Feed Manufacturers said the price of a 70kg bag of dairy meal has gone up from Sh2,000 to Sh2,350 in two months.
The price of a 50kg bag of layers has increased from Sh2,850 to Sh3,100 in one week in some areas. This has seen the increase of a tray of eggs from Sh300 to a high of 360 while a tray of kienyeji eggs has gone up from Sh450 to close to Sh480 in some areas.
This week, Farmer’s Choice announced it will be reducing the volume of sales of pigs because of the high cost of animal feed.
In a notice sent on October 4 to pig farmers, Farmers Choice Limited Rosemark Division general manager Sharon Tsigadi said effective this week, they have decreased their weekly sales volume at the Kasarani outset from 220 tonnes to 150 metric tons.
“Further to my communication on September 4, I wish to confirm that despite our best efforts to increase and maintain our sales volume, there has been no change in the feed raw material situation," the notice read.
Dr Tsigadi said the situation continues to deteriorate, with scarcity and high prices of wheat Pollard and Wheat Bran persisting.
She pointed out that when these raw materials are available, the cost is two to three times what they were paying in January this year.
The cost of soya beans has also increased by fourfolds, whilst that of the main energy source-maize has increased by 30 per cent with the alternative barley not currently available.
“All pointers indicate that the situation will worsen and we can only hope that the government will intervene soon to allow duty-free importation of GM yellow maize amongst other materials. This is if the livestock is to survive,” she said.
“It is in light of this crisis that I regret to confirm that our weekly sales volumes at Kasarani will decrease from the current 220 MT to 150 mt effective October 4.
"We will revert back to unrestricted sales volumes as soon as we are able to stock up on our major raw materials, which will hopefully be in the next couple of weeks. We reaffirm our commitment to fully support the Kenyan pig industry even in these challenging times.”
Sylvia Magotsi, a pig farmer from City Ranch Limited in Kiambu county, said farmers are struggling with the high cost of animal feed.
She said since 2015, she has been keeping at least 1,000 pigs. She used to supply 25 pigs a week to Farmer’s Choice, but since last year, the number has reduced because of the high cost of feed.
“Since last year when the Covid-19 pandemic started, we have reduced the number of pigs and are not even able to supply on a monthly basis. This is due to the feed prices. I now supply pigs twice a month. The number of pigs has dropped from 1,000 to 600,” Magotsi said.
-Edited by SKanyara