By Suleiman Mbatiah
Worth Noting:
- According to Mr. Abdullah Gonjobe, a Borana Community elder from Isiolo County, perennial widespread livestock diseases have blocked farmers from accessing markets, preventing them from selling their animals and causing severe financial losses.
- Gonjobe, who is also a trader and herder, adds that unexplainable diseases, at times, lead to animal deaths which not only devastate livelihoods but also drive entire communities deeper into poverty, worsening food insecurity and economic hardship among pastoral communities.
- “Lack of information, early warning systems, funds, and extension services exposes us to devastating losses of livestock from diseases. Also, poor access to information on market standards makes us fail to meet health and safety requirements, effectively locking us out of lucrative markets,” notes Mr. Gonjobe.
The livestock industry in Kenya and the region is facing significant challenges due to the spread of zoonotic diseases, which have hindered the growth of livestock exports and impacted the regional economy.
These diseases, which can be transmitted between animals and humans, present health risks and lead to stringent trade restrictions that limit the movement of livestock and livestock products across borders.
Zoonotic diseases such as Rift Valley fever, anthrax, and brucellosis have become increasingly problematic for livestock farmers in the region by disrupting the supply chain, prompting immediate livestock quarantines, and, at times, the destruction of affected animals and animal products.
The livestock sector plays a major role in the Kenyan food system, contributing about 12 percent of the country’s overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 40 percent of agricultural GDP, and employing about half of the agricultural labor force, according to a 2019 report by the Kenya Markets Trust.
However, the emergence of infectious diseases has restricted Kenya’s ability to tap into high-value markets, particularly in Europe, the United States of America, the Middle East, and Asia, where countries are strict on import health standards.
According to Mr. Abdullah Gonjobe, a Borana Community elder from Isiolo County, perennial widespread livestock diseases have blocked farmers from accessing markets, preventing them from selling their animals and causing severe financial losses.
Mr. Gonjobe, who is also a trader and herder, adds that unexplainable diseases, at times, lead to animal deaths which not only devastate livelihoods but also drive entire communities deeper into poverty, worsening food insecurity and economic hardship among pastoral communities.
“Lack of information, early warning systems, funds, and extension services exposes us to devastating losses of livestock from diseases. Also, poor access to information on market standards makes us fail to meet health and safety requirements, effectively locking us out of lucrative markets,” notes Mr. Gonjobe.
Kenya currently exports only limited amounts of livestock and animal products to the European 00Union (EU), largely due to strict EU regulations on animal health and food safety. However, the recent EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) presents an opportunity to increase these exports, provided Kenya can meet the required standards.
The agreement seeks to boost bilateral trade in goods, increase investment flows, strengthen the ties between reliable partners, and facilitate mutually advantageous economic relations in a sustainable manner, stimulating job creation and economic growth.
According to Dr. Richard Kyuma, Director of Livestock Marketing, Agri Business and Food Security, the government has intensified surveillance and vaccination campaigns, especially in pastoral communities, to prevent the spread of diseases.
A week ago, President William Ruto announced that the government would vaccinate 72 million livestock from January with the aim of tackling widespread livestock diseases and enhancing Kenya’s ability to export high-quality livestock products to both national and international markets.
“These diseases have been in the livestock for quite a while. Provided they are within our country, we are not able to sell our animals to especially the European market, which is a lucrative market,” stated Dr. Kyuma on the sidelines of a continental livestock market platform validation workshop.
The African Pastoral Markets Development (APMD) Platform, currently being validated by analysts and implementers, aims to strengthen the role of pastoralism in promoting inclusive economic growth, sustainable development, and improved livelihoods.
The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is spearheading the establishment and operationalization of the regional livestock marketing platform.
AU-IBAR is a specialized technical office of the African Union Commission (AUC) and operates under the Director, who reports to the AUC via the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA).
“The implementation of the APMD Platform will give us the opportunity to overcome these barriers. By fostering collaboration and embracing innovation, we can unlock new pathways for sustainable growth,” says AU-IBAR Director Dr. Huyam Salih.
Additionally, initiatives to educate livestock farmers on biosecurity practices are underway, with AU-IBAR actively supporting regional efforts to enhance veterinary services, improve disease reporting systems, and establish a coordinated regional disease response strategy.
AU-IBAR urges member states to establish official control programs and seek disease-free status through the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). AU-IBAR also advocates for improved access to high-quality vaccines to effectively prevent and control Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) and zoonoses.
The APMD Platform seeks to ensure that Kenya and the region’s livestock sector achieves its full export potential through investment in infrastructure, research, and stronger collaboration with international bodies for effective disease management and better market returns.
The stakeholders validating the APMD Platform agree that improved biosecurity measures and disease control will lead to a gradual easing of trade restrictions, enabling the livestock industry to thrive in an increasingly interconnected global market.
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