Nairobi Embraces Major Investment in Livestock Feed Production
Nairobi: Dr. Stanley Mutua, the head of Animal Feeds and Nutrition Services at the Ministry of Agriculture, has unveiled a significant shortfall in the production of dry matter animal feed. Kenya’s annual requirement stands at 55 million metric tonnes, yet the country only produces 40 percent of this amount, leaving a substantial gap of 33 million metric tonnes.
According to Kenya News Agency, not only is the country facing a production deficit, but also a considerable amount of the feed produced, approximately half, is lost to post-harvest wastage. This scenario has forced Kenya to rely on imports to meet its feed demands, a situation Dr. Mutua described as unsustainable. To address this issue, the Kenyan government, in collaboration with development partners including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the African Union-Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), and the Kenyan Government, is initiating an investment plan focusing on feed production.
The project, termed the Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems Kenyan Chapter, was launched in Naivasha. It involves a 3.4 million US dollar investment spread across 10 years, targeting 10 feed value chains and encompassing 2.2 million acres nationwide. The goal is to generate 4.3 billion bales of hay annually, ultimately bridging the 33 million metric tonnes feed and fodder deficit. Dr. Mutua emphasized the adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices to ensure the production of quality animal feeds, benefiting over 3 million small-holder farmers, predominantly women.
Addressing the prevalent issue of post-harvest losses, the livestock health expert from the Livestock Department highlighted the dire need for serious interventions. Dr. Mutua underscored the importance of self-sufficiency, advocating for an increase in production, strategic supply, and the integration of mechanisation to transition from small-scale to large-scale production. Investments in feed storage, conservation, and value addition are also part of the government’s strategy to reduce wastage and enhance utilisation.
The national feed strategy, as outlined by Dr. Mutua, aims to tackle challenges related to animal feeds and water shortages, feed quality, high costs, weak policies, and to strengthen feed data and information systems for better intervention timing. Various fodder commercialization projects are already underway across counties to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and global crises such as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Dr. Annie Lewa, the AU-IBAR’s Senior Projects and Programmes Officer, highlighted the role of the Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFS) project in developing sufficiency in livestock feed and fodder across six African states. Cecilia Rangwe, the AU-IBAR Secretary General, pointed out the project’s focus on empowering women, who constitute 70 percent of Africa’s agricultural production, through strengthening enterprises and facilitating access to funding.
Christine Kalui, President of the African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness Network (AWARFA-N), called for greater women participation in policy decisions concerning feed and fodder systems. The RAFFS Project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the African Union Commission, aims to address the impacts of recent global crises on African feed and fodder systems, with a focus on women’s inclusion and building resilience in the sector.
FAO data reveals that as of 2017, Kenya’s livestock sector contributed 4.4 percent to the country’s GDP, with a diverse animal population and substantial beef and cow milk production. With projections indicating a significant increase in demand for livestock products by 2050, the country is positioning itself to meet these future needs through strategic investments and policy reforms in the feed and fodder sector.