State earmarks Sh3.1m for 12 livestock markets

Livestock drinking water at a trough in Isiolo County. [PHOTO: ALI ABDI/STANDARD]

Kenya: The Government plans to spend Sh3.1 million to construct 12 livestock markets in three counties in Arid and Semi-Arid areas (ASALs) this year.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) will fund the initiative designed to enable farmers to actively participate in the livestock business.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries has already published an advertisement in the local dailies calling for bids for construction of the facilities. Agriculture Principal Secretary Sicily Kariuki said the markets would be constructed under the drought resilience and sustainable livelihoods programme in the horn of Africa being funded by AfDB.

"The ministry will spend part of the proceeds to finance construction of various livestock markets in Samburu, Isiolo, and Baringo counties," said Ms Kariuki, adding that each market will cost Sh260,000.

Areas where the markets will be constructed are Mararal, Lekuru, Porro and Suguta in Samburu County and Kipsang, Isiolo town, Garbulla, and Barambate in Isiolo county. They will also be built in Turuturu, Kampi Nyasi, Kinyanch and Kalabata in Baringo county. Bidders have up to April 30, 2015 to submit sealed bidding documents.

Despite the growing demand for meat locally and globally, pastoralists, who are the main livestock keepers, have the highest incidence of poverty, economic insecurity and unemployment yet they produce more than 70 per cent of the meat consumed. According to Livestock Principal Secretary Fred Segor, the sector contributes to food and cash needs of the farmers, providing employment to about 10 million people.

"The livestock sector contributes 12 per cent of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 40 per cent of the agricultural GDP in Kenya. Kenya has an estimated herd of 4.2 million improved dairy animals, 10 million zebus, 27 million goats, and 2.9 million camels which are the main sources of milk in the country," Segor said in an earlier interview.

Livestock farmers are faced with challenges such as public health concerns in the marketing of products, poor roads, inadequate chilling /processing facilities, high cost and poor quality inputs and limited credit.