Kenya has begun laying the foundation for a long-term solution to its feed and fodder crisis, with a new focus on structured investments and youth involvement.

At a high-level breakfast hosted at a city hotel on Wednesday, stakeholders from across the livestock sector gathered to set the stage for the country’s first-ever Fodder Contracting and Investment Action, known as KeFFCIA 1.

The initiative is being led by the Kenya Feed and Fodder Alliance (KeFFA), in collaboration with the State Department for Livestock Development and supported by the African Union–InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) under the Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFS) Project, with funding from the Gates Foundation.

The event, which drew commercial fodder producers, processors, financiers, insurers, and development partners, marks the beginning of a new approach to resolving Kenya’s national feed deficit, which currently stands at 30 million metric tonnes.

That deficit represents an investment opportunity estimated at $4.5 billion.

Speaking at the event, KeFFA President Tumal Olto made it clear that KeFFA intends to lead the charge, not just as a facilitator but as a fully engaged stakeholder.

KeFFCIA 1 is expected to play a critical role in this shift, turning fodder from a forgotten input into a major economic driver.

The government was represented by Prof Abdi Guliye, Advisor on Livestock and Rangeland Management at the Executive Office of the President.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to feed security as a national priority under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

Prof Guliye emphasized the need for structured investments and stronger public-private partnerships to stabilize the sector.

Source: Capitalfm