In a strategic shift from crisis management to long-term resilience, the Government of Kenya has announced the establishment of National Animal Feed Reserves. The initiative, directed by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, aims to protect the livelihoods of millions of farmers and pastoralists from the devastating effects of recurring drought.
Speaking at the launch of the Emkitha Dairy Cooperative Union in Embu County, CS Kagwe emphasized that the era of reactive emergency interventions is over. “Drought is no longer an unexpected emergency; it is a recurring reality,” the CS stated. “We must act before the losses occur, not after.”
The policy comes in response to the staggering impact of the last major drought, which claimed over 2.5 million livestock and resulted in economic losses exceeding KSh 50 billion. The hardest hit were pastoralist communities in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), who lost their primary sources of food and income.
A Proactive Framework for Feed Security
The new directive focuses on stockpiling silage, hay, and drought-tolerant fodder during surplus seasons for strategic release during dry spells. Key pillars of the program include:
- County-Led Implementation:Counties will take the lead in planning and stocking, supported by national funding and technical oversight.
- Cooperative Distribution:Leveraging local cooperatives to ensure feed reaches genuine livestock owners efficiently.
- Early Warning Systems:Data-driven triggers will deploy resources in time to prevent distress sales and animal deaths.
Strengthening Disease Control
Recognizing that health is as vital as nutrition, CS Kagwe also announced a crackdown on illegal livestock movement. Strict enforcement will be applied to areas affected by Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and other outbreaks. These measures include enhanced vaccination campaigns for diseases like Anthrax and strengthened biosecurity at checkpoints, enforced by County Commissioners and security agencies.
The Power of Cooperatives
Using Embu as a case study, the CS highlighted the transformative potential of organized farming. Embu currently produces 101.3 million liters of milk annually, valued at KSh 5.2 billion. However, with an average yield of only 8 liters per cow per day, there is significant room for growth.
“Farmers can double their milk production without adding a single cow,” Kagwe noted. “Nutrition and management—not animal numbers—are the fastest paths to higher incomes.”
To support this growth, the government is continuing fertilizer subsidies through cooperatives, reforming the KIAMIS system to eliminate middlemen, and providing new funding for milk coolers to reduce post-harvest losses.
