Kenya to develop climate-smart livestock systems to combat hunger, boost livestock and meat industry
The government plans aim to improve resilience in livestock farming and support smallholder farmers in semi-arid regions.
KENYA – Kenya is currently working on a national master plan that will introduce climate-smart livestock systems as a long-term measure to reduce food insecurity, increase production, and support communities vulnerable to climate shocks.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is leading the effort, with Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe saying the initiative is intended to adapt livestock production to changing environmental conditions and protect pastoral livelihoods.
Speaking during a public address in Nairobi, Kagwe said the livestock sector is a key source of income and nutrition in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions, where communities are already grappling with the impact of rising temperatures and prolonged droughts.
The planned shift towards climate-smart animal husbandry is part of a broader strategy to improve the country’s food systems and create new economic opportunities for small-scale herders and farmers.
This announcement comes alongside the launch of a US$95.7 million (KSh12.6 billion) programme known as Practice for Change, which is set to run from 2025 to 2030 and will be implemented by Heifer International.
The seven-year initiative aims to support 625,000 smallholder livestock keepers in 25 counties by addressing barriers such as limited access to financing, markets, and modern technology.
The programme also focuses on improving productivity in key agricultural sub-sectors including poultry, dairy, red meat, and horticulture, where farmers face systemic challenges that hinder long-term sustainability.
Kagwe added that livestock contributes around 12% of Kenya’s GDP, and plays a critical role not only in national food supply but also in rural employment and foreign exchange through exports.
New digital tool supports fish welfare in aquaculture sector
In a related development, Kenya’s aquaculture sector is also undergoing reforms, with recent efforts focused on promoting better fish welfare practices in tilapia farming.
A new digital tool, the FAI Tilapia Welfare App, was launched in March through a partnership between Ethical Seafood Research (ESR), FAI Farms, and the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI).
The app forms part of the Kenya Fish Welfare Project, which has started offering training workshops to farmers and agricultural extension officers across several counties.
These sessions began in Kisumu with 30 officers from nine counties attending a hands-on workshop at KMFRI’s headquarters to learn new approaches to improving fish health and farm management.
Counties involved in the programme include Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nyamira, Siaya, and Vihiga, where fish farming is becoming increasingly important to local economies.
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