The Kenyan Government and international partners have allocated Sh9.46 billion to support livestock farming among 110,000 rural households in ten counties. The six-year project is led by KeLCoP and focuses on poultry, beekeeping, sheep farming, and goat and dairy production. Aiming to bolster women’s and youth employment, it targets enhanced incomes for small-scale farmers and food security, set to conclude in September 2027.
The Government of Kenya, alongside international partners, has invested Sh9.46 billion to enhance livestock production among 110,000 rural small-scale farmer households across ten counties. This six-year initiative, executed through the Kenya Livestock Commercialisation Project (KeLCoP), receives significant funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Heifer International.
During a recent validation visit in Kakamega, Prof. Moses Kembe, the KeLCoP National Project Coordinator, highlighted the project’s focus on four key livestock sectors: indigenous poultry, beekeeping, sheep farming, and the production of dairy and goat meat. The initiative aims to create productive employment opportunities and improve food security especially for women, youth, and marginalized groups involved in small ruminant and chicken farming.
Prof. Kembe remarked, “The project is focusing on improving opportunities for the rural poor to enable them to increase their output by starting the commercialization of their livestock.” The project covers a diverse range of counties including Kakamega, Bungoma, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Marsabit, Samburu, Busia, Siaya, Nakuru, and Trans Nzoia.
In Kakamega specifically, the initiative supports 18,844 small-scale livestock households, targeting youth and women in four commercial areas: Lugari (Lumakanda), Shinyalu (Isukha Central), Khwisero (Kisa Central), and Butere (Marama Central). The project aims to bolster the government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda by enhancing rural farmers’ incomes while improving nutrition and food security.
The project is projected to conclude in September 2027, with expectations of significant socioeconomic impacts on the targeted communities.
This investment of Sh9.46 billion in livestock farming is set to significantly aid rural farmers by enhancing their production capabilities and income. With a focus on women’s and youth empowerment, the Kenya Livestock Commercialisation Project addresses critical sectors of the agricultural economy. The initiative contributes substantially to the government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda, aiming for tangible improvements in food security and nutrition.
Original Source: www.kenyanews.go.ke
