Livestock experts seek to boost animal feed production in rangelands

Livestock experts want various partners to support the production of pasture through rain fed and irrigation in the rangeland region to unlock the potential in the sector.

The Grassland and Rangeland Society of Kenya (Grask) also called for the establishment of feedlots in the 24 semi- arid and arid (ASAL) counties for disease control and fattening of animals for sale.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Grask conference at a Mombasa hotel at the weekend, secretary general Blaise Okinyi said the society was seeking to promote pasture production through county governments and communities in the face of challenges caused by climate change and development partners to support the initiative to reduce poverty.

The conference was organized by the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro).

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Okinyi explained that the society was a multidisciplinary entity that has brought together researchers, academicians, and the ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the county governments and community groups to tackle challenges in the dry areas and make them productive.

“We are working to promote sustainable production of animal feeds through rain and irrigation in the grassland and rangeland to make these areas more productive,” he said, adding that they are the next frontier for food production after the high potential areas were exhausted.

Grask chairman Prof Moses Nyangito said they were working to ensure the society was established in the 24 grassland and rangeland counties and raise food production.

“We are working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to ensure that good governance is observed. We have brought on board pastoralists and we are putting a lot of emphasis on professional decisions to assist the country move forward,” he said.

Nyangito who is the Dean of Agriculture at the University of Nairobi noted that grassland and rangeland constitute the largest part of Kenya but their potential remains largely unexploited.

The Director of Livestock Production Bishar Elmi urged Kenyans to commerciase livestock production  to increase incomes and grow the economy.

Elmi said the government was focused on controlling trans-boundary diseases such as foot and mouth through vaccination and urged farmers to turn to value addition to secure markets for their products.

He denied claims that the Livestock Bill, 2024, was aimed at increasing taxes on livestock products.

“The Bill does not focus on extra taxes on livestock products. It aims to regulate the sector to enhance standards and secure markets for animal products,” he said.

The Director of Livestock Production said that the country has a huge potential to produce surplus animal products but is yet to become a major meat exporter.

Elmi noted that the rangelands cover 80 per cent of Kenya’s land mass but continue to lack the basic foundations for social and economic development to ensure food and nutrition security.

“There is need for continuous dialogue and exchange of information on evolving issues, new technologies development and a platform that brings stakeholders together for concerted efforts that will increase results in suitable resource use, management and conservation,” he said.

He decried lack of a national representative professional body that brings together stakeholders such as learning institutions, government institutions, researchers, civil societies, communities and county governments to stimulate sustainable development and management of resources.