Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Willy Bett addressing the press in Eldoret town on Thursday, January 4, 2018. [Photo: Elvanis Ronoh].
The Ministry of agriculture will continue supporting livestock farming sector through the provision of high Artificial insemination services.
Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Willy Bett said the sector contributes over Sh450 billion from the sale of various products by providing employment, food security and raw materials for agro-industries.
“In dairy, the major constraints have been accessing and affordability of artificial insemination services but the government has now installed a modern semen production plant at the Kenya Animal Genetic Resource Centre which has the capacity to produce over Sh 1.6 million doses of semen annually,” he said in Eldoret town, Thursday.
“The facility led to the reduction of the cost of Artificial Insemination (AI) service by about 50%. The Government is also constructing a semen production station in Kitale at a cost of Sh.800m to support livestock producers in the surrounding region,” he added.
He reiterated that 3 other liquid Nitrogen plants are being put up in Uasin Gishu, Meru, and Nyandarua Counties at a cost of Shs 110 million through EAAPP project.
“The government in collaboration with the County Governments will continue to support the livestock farming by enhancing provision of extension services to the farmers in the County. This will ensure that the farmers do not lose their milk due to its perishable nature of milk,” noted Bett.