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Message: [QUOTE="Shamiso, post: 83829, member: 160"] The government finally admits drought murders livestock on a biblical scale. Officials plan national animal feed reserves to prevent recurring catastrophic losses exceeding fifty billion shillings. Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe stated that past droughts wiped out over two point five million animals, devastating arid region communities. He declared drought a predictable reality requiring advance planning, not emergency responses. Strategic reserves of hay and silage will be stockpiled during good seasons. County governments will manage local storage and distribution through livestock cooperatives. Early warning systems should trigger feed deployment before animals begin dying. The policy aims to prevent mass death and distress sales among pastoralists. Kagwe also announced stricter movement controls for livestock from counties with foot and mouth disease. Security agencies will enforce restrictions alongside expanded vaccination campaigns. The focus includes improving biosecurity at checkpoints to contain outbreaks. He emphasized dairy cooperatives as critical for farmer resilience, urging increased milk yield per cow over herd expansion. Proper feeding and management could double current production levels. The government will expand cooperative-based input delivery, continuing fertilizer subsidies through these groups. Structured animal off-take programs will stabilize prices during dry periods. Additional funding for milk coolers aims to reduce post harvest losses. County authorities remain frontline implementers, with national coordination and technical support. The entire strategy frames preparedness as non-negotiable for food security. [/QUOTE]

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