Good news for livestock farmers as state outlines plan to boost sector

Livestock Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke said Livestock production is the dominant economic activity in the region and plays an integral role in driving the local economy, therefore the government will do everything within its means to improve it.

He was speaking in Garissa where he led officials from the veterinary services, the Kenya Leather Development Council, the Kenya Dairy Board among other agencies under his state department during the service provider exhibition.

He reiterated the importance of value addition on the livestock products which will bring more revenue and profit to the farmers.

He said the government is working on elaborate policies and measures to create an enabling environment for livestock production in the country which will lead to higher returns for farmers.

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

Other interventions include the creation and operationalisation of the Kenya Leather Development Council and the establishment of regional dairy processing plants to bring them closer to the farmers and other stakeholders hence reducing production cost.

Mueke said the move will create employment opportunities for thousands of people countrywide by ensuring they create local brands from their own resources.

On disease control, the government will open offices in the counties, create laboratories for fast testing and quick reporting of outbreak.

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

The National Assembly Livestock committee chairperson and Tigania East MP John Mutunga urged the livestock farmers to also invest in skins and hides of their livestock.

Mutunga said the leather tanning industry has potential and that people are surprised to know the value of the animal is lower than that of its skin.

“When the skin is processed and utilised for purposes like the production of bags or shoes, it generates more value in terms of the different use it can be put into, the potential of job creation and the capturing of the global market,” Mutunga said.

“Kenya is only able to capture 0.14 per cent of the global market so we have not done much because the leather market is bigger than other markets. Worldwide, the leather industry produces $130 billion every year, that means we are only getting around $140 million a year which is not a lot,” he added.

The livestock committee chairperson called on the government to create a good brand for the Kenyan leather products that will attract both local and global markets without doubts on the quality.

He called on residents of Garissa to take advantage of River Tana to engage in livestock farming and fodder production, establishment of local processing plants which will likely reduce production costs due to the proximity of raw materials and the industries.

Garissa Township MP Mohamed Dekow said he will support farmers on issues of improved breeds to produce milk and meat and ensure the set up processing plants keep running.

Dekow said currently, Garissa town receives around 30,000 litres of milk from other regions and that with their own milk factories for the local camel, goat and cow milk, they will be able use their local produce without deficiency.

He further welcomed the announcement by officials from the dairy board and leather development that they will be opening new offices in his constituency, noting that they will go along way in empowering farmers to tap into new markets and add value to their produce.

“Livestock farming is the backbone of our economy. As a county, it is our obligation to support our farmers in ensuring they reap the maximum benefits of their animals by taking care of the livestock‚” Mohamed said.