Livestock ministry needs Sh12bn for proposed reforms

The ministry of Livestock Development needs Sh12 billion to increase productivity in the sector in line with the provisions of the Vision 2030 which seek to make Kenya a middle-level income country.

The ministry, which was allocated about Sh6 billion in the current financial year, hopes to raise the deficit from donors to run its programmes.

Under the proposal Tapping Opportunities in Livestock Sector for Maximum Returns to be implemented by the ministry, the Sh12 billion would help the sector increase the value of output to 30 per cent of GDP as opposed to the current 12 per cent.

Livestock minister Mohammed Abdi Kuti said immediate action is required to revive veterinary extension services and insurance schemes for the pastoralists as well as market development strategies for farmers.

The ministry hopes to raise the money by next year so that it can begin to post results in Vision 2030’s mid-term evaluation in 2015.

Mr Kuti said the government has since set measures in place to ensure farmers are looped into the journey towards the Vision 2030.

“Among the measures is the setting aside of Sh3.8 billion for leather development programmes of which Sh800 million will be used to establish a Livestock Enterprise Development Fund for the pastoral communities,” he said.

Another Sh2 billion will be utilised to set up mini-tanneries in pastoral areas where farmers would be able to access value addition for hides and skins.

A further Sh105 million is budgeted for vaccine research programmes to combat trade-sensitive diseases.

Mr Kuti said the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute, which has been using outdated technologies, will be refurbished.
“This will benefit livestock breeders in accessing quality and affordable vaccines to battle neglected diseases,” he said.

The livestock sector has been unable to respond to the higher demand for its products owing to disease outbreaks, an issue he said needs urgent response.

“Besides the sector being hindered by poor trade development policies and lack of subsidies, the major threat is disease risk,” he said.

“One of the issues limiting us is availability of vaccines and their distribution systems to reach the grassroots farmer,” he said.

The minister lamented that “diseases are spreading faster than they can be controlled”, due to the absence of such structures
Livestock PS Ken Lusaka said the government will set up a Veterinary Authority to guide efforts to combat the diseases.

“The Authority will oversee enforcement of quarantines in specific areas once a trade-sensitive disease outbreak has been reported.

Trans-boundary diseases remain a major threat to the sector, causing the country to lose nearly 40 per cent of its beef export quota,” he said.