Gov't Unveils Ksh2.1 Billion Plan to Protect Livestock From El Niño

The Ministry of Agriculture has unveiled a Ksh2.1 billion National Livestock Sector El Niño Preparedness and Anticipatory Action Plan aimed at protecting livestock farmers and pastoral communities from the projected adverse effects of the forecast El Niño weather event.

The plan was launched on Thursday, September 10, by Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe following weather advisories warning of an increased likelihood of enhanced rainfall and flooding in several parts of the country.

"This follows advisories from the Kenya Meteorological Department indicating an increased likelihood of enhanced rainfall, flooding, flash floods, and localised inundation across several counties," the ministry said.

Kagwe said the government was prioritising early interventions instead of waiting to respond after disasters had occurred, with the plan targeting counties considered vulnerable to flooding and those with high livestock populations.

He said previous extreme weather events had demonstrated the need for the Government to prepare farmers and pastoralists in advance.

"The 2023 El Niño and the 2024 long rains floods caused devastating losses to our livestock farmers, destroyed critical infrastructure and triggered disease outbreaks that set back the sector significantly.

"We therefore need to learn from our experiences and this is the reason we are determined to ensure that, our farmers and pastoralists are not caught unprepared," he said.

According to the ministry, the plan is anchored on six priority intervention areas, with Ksh100 million allocated to early warning systems, climate risk mapping, emergency communication networks and inter-agency coordination.

The largest allocation, Ksh1.5 billion, will be used to procure and pre-position vaccines, veterinary medicines, laboratory reagents, personal protective equipment, mobile veterinary clinics and emergency response kits across the targeted counties.

The government said the investment would help contain diseases that could spread during prolonged flooding and other extreme weather conditions.

"This is designed to prevent and rapidly respond to climate-sensitive diseases, including Rift Valley Fever, and the increased vector burden that typically accompanies prolonged flooding," the ministry added.

Another Ksh250 million will be allocated to protecting critical livestock infrastructure, including cattle dips, livestock markets, slaughterhouses, milk cooling facilities, veterinary laboratories and feed stores.

The plan also provides Ksh100 million for livestock evacuation, welfare and logistics operations, while Ksh50 million will be used to establish strategic feed and fodder reserves, rehabilitate water points and support emergency water supply arrangements.

A further Ksh100 million will fund farmer awareness campaigns, promotion of biosecurity measures, livestock insurance sensitisation, commercial offtake operations and contingency planning.

Kagwe said protecting livestock was critical to the livelihoods of millions of Kenyans, particularly communities living in arid and semi-arid areas.

"Livestock is the primary livelihood asset for millions of Kenyan households, particularly in our arid and semi-arid regions. Protecting that asset during an extreme weather event is a matter of food security, economic stability, and national resilience," he added.

Implementation of the plan will initially focus on 24 counties, namely Garissa, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Turkana, Samburu, Narok, Kajiado, Baringo, West Pokot, Busia, Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, Homa Bay, Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, Meru and Embu.

The ministry said additional counties could be identified based on ongoing advisories issued by the Kenya Meteorological Department.

The interventions will also bring together human, animal and environmental health agencies under the One Health framework to strengthen surveillance and response to diseases that could emerge during flooding.

"The plan is coordinated under the One Health framework, integrating human, animal, and environmental health surveillance to address zoonotic disease risks that intensify during flood events," the ministry further said.

The government said the anticipatory approach was expected to reduce livestock deaths, protect critical infrastructure and minimise disruptions to livestock markets and supply chains.

"Through this action plan, the Government expects to reduce livestock mortality, contain disease outbreaks, protect livestock markets and value chains, and significantly lower the cost of post-disaster recovery to the national exchequer," the ministry stated.

This comes weeks after the Ministry of Agriculture announced a further reduction in the price of subsidized fertilizer and certified maize seed.

In a statement on Monday, August 24, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said farmers will now purchase a 50kg bag of subsidized fertilizer at Ksh2,000, down from Ksh2,500. 

The government will also meet 50 per cent of the cost of certified maize seed, cutting the farmer’s price from Ksh300 to Ksh150 per kilogramme.

According to Kagwe, the reduction means a 2kg pack of maize seed will now cost Ksh300 instead of Ksh600, while a 10kg pack will retail at Ksh1,500, down from Ksh3,000. A 25kg pack will cost Ksh3,750 instead of Ksh7,500.

"The maize seed intervention targets approximately 40 million kilogrammes, translating to an estimated KSh 6 billion in Government subsidy," the statement read in part.

Kagwe said farmers will be able to access the subsidized fertilizer and maize seed through distribution channels designated by the Government as the intervention is rolled out.

"Farmers will access the subsidized fertilizer and maize seed through Government-designated distribution channels," the statement added.