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Message: [QUOTE="Queen, post: 84527, member: 27"] Kenya is building national animal feed reserves to stop pastoralists from losing millions of livestock during droughts. Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe called drought a predictable challenge that needs proactive action instead of emergency scrambling. The last major drought killed over 2.5 million animals and hammered pastoralist communities across Arid and Semi-Arid Lands with economic damage topping Sh50 billion. Kagwe spoke at the launch of the Emkitha Dairy Cooperative Union in Embu County. He said drought stopped being an emergency and became a recurring reality that demands action before losses pile up. The government plans to protect pastoralist assets through organized feed and water provision, animal off-take programs, and disease control while setting up long-term strategies to prevent future droughts from spiraling into crises. Strategic stockpiles of hay, silage, and drought fodder will get stored during surplus periods and rolled out when dry spells hit. Counties will handle planning, stocking, and distribution, while the national government provides coordination, funding, and technical support. Cooperatives will act as delivery agents to get feed to livestock owners fast. Early warning systems will plug into the deployment framework to stop distress sales, livestock deaths, and price crashes. Kagwe said feed reserves are critical for stabilizing incomes, protecting food production, and cutting billions in losses. Animal health and disease control measures will back up the reserves. The CS announced strict enforcement against moving livestock from counties hit with Foot and Mouth Disease and other outbreaks, with County Commissioners and security agencies watching compliance. Vaccination campaigns for FMD and anthrax will ramp up, and livestock checkpoints will get upgrades for stronger biosecurity. Kagwe pushed the economic potential of dairy cooperatives to boost productivity and resilience at the Emkitha launch. [/QUOTE]

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