Ministry of Agricuture to Establish Feed Reserves to Prevent Livestock Deaths During Drought

The Ministry of Agriculture has radical new plans to establish animal feed reserves in a bid to curb livestock loss during drought seasons.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said that the reserves would be used to stockpile products, including silage, hay, and other drought fodder that will be utilised during the dry period.

Kagwe said that counties will spearhead the process of stocking and distributing feeds from the reserves, while the national government will be responsible for coordination, funding, and technical assistance to ensure that the process is seamless.

The move is aimed at saving the country Ksh50 billion, which is lost due to livestock-related losses, especially in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL).

"The Government is committed to protecting pastoralist assets through structured feed and water provision, animal off-take programmes, and disease control measures, while ensuring long-term strategies are in place to prevent future droughts from escalating into emergencies,” Kagwe said on Thursday, January 15.

“We cannot allow drought to destroy livestock livelihoods. Feed reserves are critical to stabilising incomes, protecting food production, and reducing losses worth billions of shillings,” he added.

The ministry will also erect early warning systems to trigger early deployment of the feeds, as well as collaborating with cooperatives, which will serve as delivery agents, to ensure the feed reaches the actual livestock owners on time.

To further boost dairy farming and pastoralism, the government will also intensify livestock vaccination efforts, which will protect livestock against diseases, including Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

The ministry is also in the process of making more reforms, including the adjustment of the KIAMS, fertiliser subsidiaries, and structural animal off-take programmes, thatwill ensure that farmers enjoy agricultural benefits from the government.

"With animal feed reserves, controlled livestock movement, cooperative-based subsidies, and expanded cold chain infrastructure, Kenya aims to prevent the billion-shilling losses of past droughts, safeguard pastoralist livelihoods, and strengthen the dairy sector as a cornerstone of national food security," the ministry stated.

The country is expected to experience hot and drier conditionsthan normal until February, according to the Kenya Meteorological Department.

In its advisory, the department advised farmers to implement water conservation practices such as mulching and ensure they store enough feed and maintain water points for their animals.

Residents, especially those living in Arid and semi-arid regions, were urged to implement water-saving measures, prioritise domestic water supply, and monitor water storage facilities to ensure that they are well prepared for a water shortage that may hit during this period.

"Temperatures are expected to be warmer than average over the whole country, with prolonged periods of heat likely to intensify daytime temperatures, elevate nighttime minimums, and contribute to generally hotter-than-usual conditions throughout the month," the Department said in an advisory released in December," the department said in a forecast in December 2025.