The government has set aside Sh200 million to establish a bull semen station that will see the country produce one million semen units annually, agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei has said.
Speaking to farmers in Naivasha, the CS said the move is meant to improve the current breed of cattle in the country and the extra semen will be exported.
“The semen will be distributed to agricultural officers in the country who will give it out to farmers. This will ensure that the farmers are producing quality breeds,” he added.
Koskei added that the government has also embarked on constructing liquid nitrogen plants in Meru, Nyeri and Nyandarua counties. He said that this will alleviate the shortage of liquid nitrogen that is constraining artificial breeding programmes in Kenya.
“The centres will produce and distribute liquid nitrogen to artificial cattle breeders with a possible use for freeze branding as well,” added Koskei.
It is estimated that the annual requirements for liquid nitrogen for artificial insemination use and cattle freeze branding programme will exceed 60,000 litres annually.
Koskei added that a further Sh21 million had been set aside by the government to vaccinate cows against various diseases. The vaccination exercise will be carried out in conjunction with the Kenya Veterinary Services.
“We want to ensure that the quality of vaccines being given out to the animals is good. This will enable us to compete highly when it comes to the exportation of the animals to the other countries,” he added.
“We will also have export meat centres at Miritiri and Juma Gate where our animals will be looked after before they are exported,” he added.