Kenya’s Livestock Sector Eyes Insects as New Protein Source Amid Feed Shortage
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The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is promoting the adoption of alternative protein sources from various insects to address the shortage of protein feed ingredients for animal feed manufacturing in the country.
The animal feed industry has heavily relied on imports from neighboring and South African countries, leading to unpredictable availability and contributing to rising animal feed costs.
This was revealed by Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr. Andrew Mwihia, during the inaugural Kenya National Feeds Emergency Response Planning workshop in Naivasha.
“In addition, fish protein sources have become scarce as animals face competition from humans for the dwindling fish resource,” he noted in a speech read on his behalf by Professor Abdi Guliye, an animal production expert.
He stated that if insect protein technology, especially from the Black Soldier Fly, is widely adopted, it could significantly reduce feed deficits and lower animal feed costs in Kenya, as insect-based feed can replace main protein sources like fish and soybean while also enhancing feed quality and promoting livestock growth.
The Cabinet Secretary further highlighted the urgent need for livestock farmers to invest in both feed production and improved breeding practices to meet the rapidly growing demand for animal products in local and international markets.
He noted that Kenya is currently facing significant deficits in animal-source foods, a situation that is projected to worsen by 2030 without decisive action.
A 2018 study conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development revealed a staggering 60 percent deficit in animal feed, with the most severe shortfalls occurring in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs).
According to official government statistics, the livestock sector is vital to Kenya’s economy, contributing approximately 12 percent to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 42 percent to agricultural GDP. Dr. Mwihia reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting livestock as a key driver of national development, aiding in food security, job creation, and income generation for citizens.
Approximately 70 percent of the ruminant livestock population resides in arid and semi-arid regions, which account for about 80 percent of the country’s land mass, primarily raised under a pastoral production system.
Dr. Mwihia pointed out that the country is overstocked by around 100 percent of its carrying capacity, resulting in low animal production and increased land degradation.
The situation has been exacerbated by rising instances of drought linked to climate change, with the prolonged drought from 2020 to 2022 being the most severe in four decades.
This drought led to livestock losses estimated at Kshs 70 million, not accounting for losses in livestock body condition or ecological balance.
To tackle these issues, the Cabinet Secretary announced the government’s prioritization of key value chains, including beef, sheep, goats, indigenous poultry, honey, dairy, and leather, to enhance productivity and sustainability within the livestock sector.
Current livestock populations include approximately 4 million heads of exotic dairy cattle, 16 million heads of indigenous cattle, 24 million heads of hair sheep, 34 million heads of indigenous goats, 4 million heads of camels, and 48 million indigenous poultry.
Dr. Mwihia noted that the government has secured access to various international markets for livestock, thanks to the efforts of President William Ruto.
However, he lamented that Kenya struggles to meet market specifications due to low live body weights.
The promotion of feedlots across the country and the commercialization of livestock keeping are expected to boost livestock off-take for the market.
In the previous financial year, the government distributed 500 tonnes of sunflower seeds to producers nationwide.
“I urge research institutions to develop and provide the necessary technologies to value chain actors, while seed dealers and merchants should supply suitable seeds to producers to ensure a seamless and efficient value chain,” Dr. Mwihia added.
The inaugural forum, facilitated by the African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) through the Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems, brings together livestock feed and fodder experts and other stakeholders.
AU-IBAR is a specialized technical office of the African Union Commission (AUC), led by a director, that provides strategic leadership in the development and management of animal resources across Africa.
Dr. Huyam Salih, the AU-IBAR director, highlighted that Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda have conducted feed inventories and developed feed balances in the last five years, offering valuable experience for a unified regional response and managing transboundary actions.
The Kenyan government is in the final stages of developing a policy for land commercialization, aimed at making idle government land available to investors for production, significantly reducing the feed deficit and enhancing the country’s animal feed security.
Suleiman Mbatiah
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