TAITA TAVETA—There is a need to invest heavily in pasture production for us to sustain the livestock market in Kenya, ranchers and pastoralists have been told.
Speaking during a two-day visit to Taita Taveta County to assess the livestock potential in the ranches, the director of State Department of Livestock Production Elmi Bishar said prolonged dry spell witnessed in the country over the last five seasons caused approximately Sh 40 billion in losses. He added that over 2.6 million head of cattle died at the height of drought.
To cushion farmers from such losses, Bishar said the national government has now introduced strategies that will also ensure the livestock sector is commercialized across the 21 Arid and Semi-Arid counties.
“We have set aside 75 million for livestock insurance…currently over eight counties from Northeastern region have registered their livestock. Also, we have extra 40 million to support private sectors within the livestock sub-sector; a programme being implemented by Kenya Development Cooperation,” Bishar said, urging ranchers in Taita Taveta to take advantage of such programmes in harnessing the livestock sector.
On payment modalities, Bishar said, “This will be addressed in a memorandum of understanding to be signed between Kenyan head of state and his Indonesian counterpart, a deal set to be inked later this year. However, a team from our department led by Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke and officials from Indonesia will be visiting the country this week to affirm this.”
