State targets livestock sector reforms to curb diseases and boost markets

MUTURI MWANGI- KNA 

Principal Secretary for Livestock, Jonathan Mueke, has said the government is committed to strengthening the livestock sector through enh anced disease surveillance and targeted interventions.

Mueke, who was speaking in Nanyuki during this year’s Mt Kenya Branch Agricultural Society of Kenya Show, noted that livestock disease outbreaks, rangeland degradation, and poor market access remain some of the major challenges affecting livestock production in the country.

“Climate change continues to present government for decentralizing the services, saying many villagers had for years struggled to travel serious challenges in agriculture and livestock production through prolonged drought, emerging diseases, pasture degradation and water scarcity,” the PS said.

He added that there was need to focus on climate smart agriculture and sustainable food production systems.

 Among the interventions is nationwide vaccination campaigns and investment in improved genetics through artificial insemination breeding programmes.

Mueke noted that outbreaks of livestock diseases such as Foot and Mouth remain a major threat that does not only restrict free livestock movement within rangelands but access to major markets.

He pledged to promote fodder production and feed resilience to address climate change feed related shortages.

Further, the PS said the government would support digitization, innovation and research in the livestock value chain.