The Government has been urged to empower livestock farmers in the country in order to achieve food security which is among the vision 2030 goals. Director of The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Jimmy Smith, noted that livestock farming is important for national development. Smith observed that Kenyan livestock farmers have been rated among the best in Africa and the world at large and could do even better if they get good support from the government. “Government should empower farmers through grants that can enable them to expand livestock production as well as seeking skills and meeting veterinary services,” he said. He noted that the government can empower farmers through establishing community based slaughter houses as well as helping them secure market locally and internationally for livestock products. He spoke during signing of partnership agreement between ILRI and Egerton university department of Animal Sciences, which was witnessed by the dean of the faculty of Agriculture of the university Prof Alexander Kahi. He added that universities and research institutes should disseminate research findings information to farmers through community outreach programmes. Prof Kahi observed that ILRI was one of the worldwide known livestock research institutions whose activities had great impacts not only in Kenya and Africa but across the world. “I am optimistic that the partnership between the university and the NGO would gain enormous results in the livestock development industry in the country,” he said.

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