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Tag: livestock sector

  • KDC woos private sector in Ksh 11B livestock investment demand

    KDC woos private sector in Ksh 11B livestock investment demand

    The Kenya Development Corporation (KDC) is eying higher participation of private sector to meet financing demand to the tune of Ksh 11 billion for livestock sector value chain actors operating in counties classified as arid and semi-arid.

    This follows increased applications for funding the corporation has received under the De-Risking, Inclusion and Value Enhancement (DRIVE) Project in collaboration with the World Bank launched in 2022 with the aim of cushioning pastoralists in arid regions against adverse losses during dry seasons.

    According to KDC Chief Executive Officer Nora Ratemo, the project has so far disbursed a total Ksh 519 million to enterprises and value chain actors in at least 20 counties classified as ASAL through the seed capital totaling Ksh 4.5 billion provided by the World Bank.

    “The seed capital that was given to us by  World Bank was to supposed to come and incentivize the private sector to come and investment and that is why we are also working with financial institutions to see if we can crowd in the private sector capital,” said Ratemo.

    The project which was rolled out more than two and a half years ago following the 2019 drought which claimed at least 2.5 million livestock in Kenya is meant to unlock capital, build resilience and unlock economic potential of ASAL counties.

    In the livestock sector value chain, the funding is utilized to support fodder production and feedlots, meat processing, leather, aggregation, and livestock trade. DRIVE project also supports climate-smart, community driven development across the entire livestock value chain.

    “So far we have received applications from over 100 farmers. We have also benefited about 20 enterprises out of that all pipeline. We can do investment of up to Ksh 1 billion and we have applications of between Ksh 400-500 million which we are considering. The minimum ticket size is Ksh 3 million with interest set at 9pc per annum on a reducing balance. For women enterprises the interest is 7.5pc p.a,” she added.

    Through the project, livestock keepers in the ASAL counties have also had access to livestock insurance where they are able to access hay and animal feeds during dry seasons.

    DRIVE Project Coordinator Maurice Ouma said so far the project has 257,000 insurance policyholders out of the targeted 150,000 reaching more than 1,500 households.

    “We want that livestock insurance aspect to be the way a farmer goes to buy vet drugs and input into their production system. We are pushing the commercialization agenda so that pastoralism and livestock production in general is commercialized and livestock insurance becomes part of routine bit,” said Ouma.

    In the next financial year, KDC is seeking to explore root to market, increase quality of meat, invest in innovation such as animal genetics and increase support in livestock feeds production.

  • Gov’t declares nationwide enforcement of rules in livestock sector

    Gov’t declares nationwide enforcement of rules in livestock sector

    The Government has declared a Nationwide enforcement of rules and regulations in the livestock sector.

    The exercise, which is being coordinated by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration will involve the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ministry of Health and County Governments.

    Speaking at the Kenya School of Government during a high-level multi-agency security workshop ahead of the exercise that begins immediately, Internal Security Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo said there has been an increase in livestock theft, unregulated trade in animal products, and contamination of food products that have affected eateries and resulted in fatalities in the country.

    “We are also witnessing a worrying pattern of livestock thefts particularly in Rift Valley, Eastern and Central regions and meat seized while being transported to Nairobi and other regions. This theft is linked with the emergence of bandits and cattle rustlers selling meat to unscrupulous traders and transnational criminal gangs who are smuggling and trafficking animal products such as skins across borders linked with other illicit wildlife trade,” he said.

    In response to these threats, a 100-day Rapid Response Initiative (RRI) has been launched aimed at enforcing existing rules and regulations in the livestock sector.

    All County Commissioners are directed to form multi-agency teams composed of the Police, DCI, NIS, NGAOs, County Public Health Services, and Veterinary Services, and co-opt other relevant regulatory agencies with specific terms of reference to enforce the same.

    Multi-agency teams are also tasked to identify hotspots for the illegal slaughter of all livestock and arrest culprits while dismantling all the criminal syndicates involved.

    “Suspicion of consumption of donkey meat has raised concerns about the origin of these animals despite the government having banned donkey slaughter in 2020 and rendered designated abattoirs non-operational,” PS Omollo said.

    According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, animal products pose food safety hazards if not properly handled and we must adhere to food safety standards and health practices from production to consumption.

    The Principal Secretary for Livestock Development Jonathan Mueke said, “We have seen a gap in enforcement of the livestock sector rules and regulations and have come up with this initiative that will target animal product facilities as well as our transport highways.”

    PS Mueke called on the multi-agency to effectively play their role to develop a robust whole-of-government coordination approach for effective enforcement and appreciated the essential leadership provided by Regional Commissioners and County Commissioners.

    The meeting was also attended by the Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin, Director of Public Health, Dr. Maureen Kamene, Regional Commissioners, County Commissioners, Police Commanders, and stakeholders in the livestock industry.

  • Ksh 850M Isiolo abattoir nears completion after 16 years

    Ksh 850M Isiolo abattoir nears completion after 16 years

    Isiolo Export Abattoir expects to begin buying livestock from farmers in Isiolo County and neighbouring beginning March next year as installation of key equipment near completion.

    The Ksh 850 million facility whose construction began 16 years ago is expected to provide ready-market for farmers in the region when operations begin.

    The ongoing installations mark the final stages in construction of the facility which is also set to provide employment opportunities for hundreds of youths as well as support development of other industries in the livestock value chain such tanneries.

    According to the project engineer James Munyoki, the facility will have two rail lines, a fully automated one for sheep and goats, and a static one for cattle and camels.

    “We have one line for goat and sheep which is fully automated and a static line for cows,” he stated.

    He said that following the redesigning of the abattoir, both the primary and secondary structures supporting the rails are made of galvanized steel metals, while the rails that will come into contact with meat are made of stainless steel.

    Stanley Kirimi from the Ministry of Agriculture, and who co-ordinated the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP) which co-funded the facility with the County Government of Isiolo termed the progress of the abattoir as impressive, expressing optimism that the facility will be opened by the end of March as anticipated.

    “We are even envisioning that we will have livestock imports from Ethiopia and Somalia,” he added.

    The Isiolo export abattoir which sits on a landmass of more than 500,000 acres including the feedlots, disease free zone and livestock receiving yard has the capacity to slaughter over 1,000 sheep and goats, 300 cows and over 100 camels on a single day.

    The project contractor Isack Hajj said that progress at the facility was going according to plan, noting that he expects to complete the remaining installation works by the end of march to pave way for its official opening and operationalization.

    Kirimi noted that the facility was co-funded by the County Government of Isiolo to the tune of Ksh 400 million and the World Bank through the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project to the tune of a further Ksh 450 million.

    Its catchment area is expected to be Isiolo and the neighboring counties of Samburu, Laikipia, Meru, Garissa, Wajir and Marsabit, as well as the neighboring nations of Ethiopia and Somalia.