Report Extensive Livestock Expo, Kenya 2015

Kenya’s first Extensive Livestock Expo was held in Nairobi in November 2015. Themed ‘Herding for Markets’, the Expo brought together local, regional and international livestock producers and policy makers, financiers, buyers and other livestock value chain actors. It attracted 1200 delegates, 75 exhibitors and 10,000 livestock producers from various parts of the country. The Expo consisted of an Exhibition to show case livestock based products and services, and a Conference designed to explore opportunities in the livestock industry. 

The Food & Business Knowledge Platform supported the organization of the Conference to enhance knowledge exchange between European and African experts, make available knowledge to policy makers and practitioners and to promote regional collaboration on this theme which hopefully will continue in the future.

Livestock contributes about 6-20% of the GDP of individual countries and 30% farm gate value of agricultural commodities in the Horn and Eastern Africa region, employing about 50% of agricultural labour. Driven by population increase, urbanization and economic growth, livestock production is one of the fastest-growing agricultural sub-sectors in developing countries. Demand for livestock/animal food products is predicted to likely scale up to 20 times more by the year 2050.

Recent trends indicate increasing investment along extensive livestock value chains by both the government and the private sector. This trend needs to be fast tracked in order to tap the huge potential. There is now more than ever, a need to showcase the commercial viability of extensive livestock in complementarity to the inherent social-cultural importance still attached to the livestock by most of the keeping communities.

That is why the first Extensive Livestock Expo was organized in Kenya in November 2015. Overall objective of the Expo was to unlock the sector’s potential by providing an expert platform for learning and position livestock as a priority economic growth sector at a local, regional and national level. Co-organizers of the Expo were AgriProFocus Kenya, KCB foundation, Kenya Livestock Marketing Council, Kenya Markets Trust, Land O’ Lakes and SNV (Netherlands Development Organization).

Conference

The Conference brought together different actors in the pastoral value chains in the Horn and East Africa countries along the livestock corridors. Aim was to bring the livestock agenda as a priority sector for governments, but more importantly explore opportunities of collaboration, promote the commercial value of extensive livestock value chains and opening up investment opportunities. The Conference entailed discussions and presentations of technical papers on various thematic areas including production, livestock marketing policies, risk management and much more. The list of speakers on the Conference included 21 Kenyan or East African experts and 5 European speakers. The six conference sessions were chaired by the co-organizers and the opening ceremony was attended by officials from the University of Nairobi/Faculty of Vet Medicine (the host), Ministry of Livestock and the AgriProFocus board (president Kees Wantenaar).

Future

Considering the success of and the interest in this first expo, AgriProFocus Kenya and Kenya Commercial Bank are discussing to organize another extensive livestock event. A date has not yet been fixed, but the ambition is to let the second expo take place in northern Kenya in the heartland of extensive livestock production.

Detailed information

Please find a detailed proceedings document on the 2015 Conference at the AgriProFocus platform; and below a list of all presentations given during the Conference.

• “Livestock partnerships in Taita Taveta” by dr Washington Wanderi
• “Livestock partnerships in Laikipia county” by dr Duncan Mwariri
• “Extensive Livestock Sector Partnership opportunities at Egerton University“ by prof Ogendo
• “MicroChips for livestock identification” by Mr Chris Daborn, including questions & answers
• “Feeding Strategies for Pastoralist Areas” from dr. Gijs Aarts (not presented by because of health problems)
• “Drought risk management for extensive livestock husbandry” by dr Luigi Luminari from NMDA
• “Pastoral Risk Management” by dr Wolfgang Bayer from AGRECOL
• “Impacts of Veterinary Policy” by Dr. Cathryn Wanjohi
• “Overview of livestock policies in Extensive Livestock Production” by Dr Julia Kinyua from MoALF
• “Financial Services for livestock entrepreneurs” by dr. Stephen Kiniiya from K-Lift
• “Financial products for SME Agribusiness” by Anthony Muthiora KCB
• “Food safety in informal markets for livestock products for Extensive Livestock Expo” by Dr Ann Waters-Bayer from PROLINNOVA based on this publication
• “Control of east coast fever and corridor disease in extensive farmer systems” by dr. Nick MacHardy from BIMEDA
• “Commercial distribution of ECF-ITM Vaccine in East Africa & Malawi” by dr T. Heshborne from GALVmed
• “Animal Health: Inputs Supply Models that Work” by Wangia from AGMARK
• “Research and development in livestock nutrition/fodder – new trends” by dr. D Miano from KALRO
• “Livestock Nutrition: Current Models, Trends and Practices [What Can Practically Work?]” by Stanley Mutua from the Kenyan Ministry of ALF
• “Extensive livestock production systems with emphasis on extensive livestock breeding – Models that work, New trends and Practices” by Dr Josh Odhiambo, director World Wide Sires East Africa & Chairman Livestock Genetic Society of East Africa