Livestock
Supporting Kenya to develop a modern and competitive meat sector, whilst also innovating models that maximise the extent livestock producers participate in and benefit from higher returns from the sector
East Africa is home to an estimated 180 million cattle, but the region as a whole remains a net importer of beef, and its beef trade deficit is growing.
Our current programme focuses on Kenya, where over ten million pastoralists and smallholders in the arid and semi-arid lands depend on livestock as their main source of income. The sector therefore has an important role to play in delivering an inclusive and prosperous future for millions of vulnerable people in Kenya.
Number of Kenyan pastoralists who derive their livelihoods from livestock
Livestock sector’s percentage contribution to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Kenya’s demand for livestock products is expected to double by 2050
The Opportunity
To date, pastoralists have struggled to effectively engage in commercial value chains and their participation has been marred by their limited access to inputs and their exposure to climate related risks.
However, there is an increasing demand for meat in urban centres and a growing middle-class is increasingly concerned with food safety and interested in higher value products. There is also a small but growing export opportunity.
In addition, Kenya is investing significantly in infrastructure in the North, bringing opportunity for pastoralists to engage in the livestock industry on a more commercial basis.
Areas of work
Improving access and uptake of professional inputs and services among pastoralists
Exploring the use of inclusive feedlot and rangeland models to improve the quality and quantity of livestock traded
Attracting large scale private investment in meat processing capacity and cold chain to increase product value and open up more efficient routes to market
Supporting the implementation of the country’s livestock policy and master plan
With a small investment in hygiene and food safety, we are now the leading exporters of goat meat to the Middle East from Kenya, with 216 employees and a strong growth trajectory.
INSIGHTS FROM OUR WORK
