[Farmers at a livestock market in Garissa town. They have earned Sh84 billion from the sale of sheep, cattle and goats in 2016 signaling the importance of livestock in the economy.] flickr.com]
Farmers, particularly in arid areas earned Sh84 billion from the sale of sheep, cattle and goats in 2016 signaling the importance of livestock in the economy.
This is despite the drought that hit counties in Northern Kenya- Garissa, Wajir, Marsabit, Mandera, Turkana, Samburu, Laikipia and West Pokot where residents are predominantly cattle keepers.
According to the government, the 28.3 percent rise from 2015’s Sh66 billion shows gains made from increased investments in the sector across the value chain.
Data from the Kenya Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) indicates that in 2016, the number of livestock slaughtered in the country increased by 8.2 percent to 2.4 million with the number of goats and sheep slaughtered rising from 6.5 million to 8.8 million representing a 25.5 percent rise.
The statistics also show that live chicken, poultry meat and egg sales earned farmers Sh8 billion up from Sh6 billion riding on rising demand for the products especially in urban areas.
This rise has also increased the demand for animal feeds with the Association of Kenya Animal Feeds Manufacturers (Akifema) saying in 2015 demand for dairy feed products rose by 27 percent, pig feeds 8 percent while poultry shot up by 64 percent.
Akifema also reported that the feed industry saw new provender millers, oilseed millers and feed premix suppliers licensed to supply raw materials to feed manufacturers.
The livestock sector has also enjoyed robust growth in the dairy industry where farmers wrecked in Sh23 billion after selling 452 million litres of milk.
Farmers in arid areas particularly in Northern Kenya recently called on government to buy more livestock from as the drought prolonged.