This archive report was first published on 28 October 2019.
As Kenya's 'Big Four Agenda' focuses on food security, education, health, and housing, the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) counties have come to realize that their livestock sector is crucial to achieving this goal.
With counties like Laikipia, Nyandarua, and Narok leading the way in growing and conserving fodder, mainly hay, they have a combined land mass of 30,710 square kilometres, producing hay for both local consumption and sale in Nairobi and the central region.
However, despite their efforts, these counties struggle to achieve their full potential in hay production, with unclear data on their total production in 2019, year-on-year growth rate, and ability to meet demand for meat and milk in 2035.
Hay production in Kenya is often driven by a 'me too' trend, lacking data, market research, or quality standards, making it neither resilient nor economically scalable.
To address this, counties should deploy fodder data models that can forecast national hay demand for longer periods, taking into account factors like population size and growth, and national income levels.
By using production data, counties can determine whether they will meet their market targets by increasing acreage or improving management practices, avoiding duplication of projects, and monitoring project success.
Combining production data with national hay demand models can also help counties identify opportunities for exporting hay to the Gulf countries, making them more attractive to private investors.
Ultimately, credible fodder data models can be used in benchmarking and appraisals, repositioning ASALs counties as the fodder barns of Kenya.
