President William Ruto has announced a significant reduction in the cost of sexed semen from KSh8,000 to under KSh3,000 to help dairy farmers boost milk production and productivity.
Speaking during the Madaraka Day celebrations in Bungoma, Ruto highlighted several measures aimed at improving livestock genetics and addressing challenges such as feed-water supply, diseases, and market access barriers.
Ruto emphasized the implementation of a nationwide breed improvement program in partnership with counties, which includes upgrading dairy and beef breeds. In 2023, the Kenya Animal Genetic Resource Centre provided farmers with 900,000 doses of bull semen to enhance production. Additionally, the goat artificial insemination station at the Animal Health and Industry Training Institute in Ndomba, Kirinyaga, produced 48,000 doses of goat semen and trained 80 goat inseminators.
The President underscored the importance of veterinary services in safeguarding animal and human health, improving animal welfare, ensuring the production of high-quality livestock, and promoting food security and trade. He noted that the modernized Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute produced 35 million doses of assorted livestock vaccines in 2023.
Ruto also announced the launch of a national vaccination program aimed at eradicating the PPR disease and controlling foot-and-mouth disease. The program will see more than 22 million cattle vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease and 50 million goats vaccinated through a collaborative effort involving both national and county governments.
The government will provide vaccines and facilitate vaccination efforts, while county governments will support logistics and human resources. The initiative will involve 1,500 veterinary surgeons and 6,000 animal health assistants to deliver health and husbandry services to farmers.
