The Principal Secretary for Livestock Development, Jonathan Mueke, has said animal feed shortages remain a major challenge to livestock production in Kenya, with climate change and recurrent droughts continuing to affect productivity and farmer incomes.
Speaking during a meeting with officials from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the PS noted that strengthening sustainable feed systems is critical to building a resilient and productive livestock sector, particularly in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).
Mueke hosted IITA Country Representative Rachael Zozo and her team for discussions on possible collaboration with the State Department for Livestock Development.
The talks focused on promoting drought-resistant forage crops for ASAL regions and scaling up innovative technologies such as Aflasafe to help reduce aflatoxin contamination in animal feeds.
According to the PS, IITA’s expertise in climate-smart agriculture, drought-resistant crops, and sustainable farming systems will play a key role in supporting Kenya’s livestock sector against the effects of climate change.
He emphasized that improved feed availability and quality would help boost livestock productivity, improve farmer incomes, and strengthen food security across the country.
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