Naivasha: Lack of sufficient raw materials has been identified as a significant cause of livestock feed shortages in the Horn of Africa. East African Farmers Federation (EAFF) Chief Executive Officer Stephen Muchiri highlighted that the scarcity of essential commodities used in manufacturing livestock feed has resulted in insufficient supplies, leading to reduced productivity in the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, Muchiri explained that crucial ingredients for feed production, such as soybean, maize, and wheat bran, are imported from neighboring countries, making these feeds unaffordable for many farmers. In response, the EAFF has assisted farmers in forming cooperatives to produce raw materials locally, exploring alternatives like rearing black soldier flies and creating feed reserves.
Despite its potential, the agriculture sector remains underfunded, with regional governments failing to fulfill pledges to increase sector funding. Muchiri spoke at a Naivasha workshop with regional stakeholders, emphasizing the impact of feed shortages and poor-quality feed on the dairy sector, a vital component of agriculture. He identified marketing as a major challenge, with dairy farmers often exploited by middlemen, leading to significant post-harvest losses.
Climate change has also severely impacted agriculture, with 2.5 million animals lost to drought in Kenya between 2022 and 2024, resulting in a $500 million loss. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development reports that Kenya requires 55 million metric tonnes of dry matter animal feed annually but only produces 40 percent, creating a significant deficit. Half of the domestic production is wasted due to post-harvest losses, necessitating unsustainable imports.
The Kenyan government, collaborating with development partners, is introducing feed investment planning and prioritizing 10 feed value chains across 2.2 million acres, aiming to produce 4.3 billion bales of hay annually through a $3.4 million investment from 2022 to 2032. The Ministry has also launched a programme to introduce feedlots in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) to boost livestock productivity, addressing climate change's effects through a Public Private Partnership in 23 counties.
A National Feed Policy has been developed to tackle a 26 percent malnutrition rate in Kenya's livestock sector, which has led to stunting and reduced productivity. Nakuru Executive Committee Member for Agriculture Leonard Bor stated that the county prioritized the dairy value chain to address market access challenges, encouraging farmers to join cooperatives for training on best practices in feed storage. The country has also progressed in value addition, producing milk powder and ultra-high-temperature treated milk, despite ongoing market access challenges.
Dr. Katali Benda from Uganda's National Animal Genetic Resource Centre noted their focus on breeding preferred dairy breeds and conserving indigenous breeds like Ankole cows to boost milk production.