Audio By Vocalize
A nationwide digital livestock tracking system, expanded vaccination programme and reforms in meat production are at the centre of a new strategy aimed at growing Kenya’s livestock industry into a Sh1 trillion economic powerhouse within the next two years.
The resolutions adopted during the inaugural Kenya Meat Conference in Nyeri seek to transform the country’s meat value chain from livestock production to export by strengthening animal health systems, introducing mandatory traceability, improving food safety, increasing value addition and attracting private investment into one of Kenya’s largest but underperforming agricultural sectors.
At the centre of the reforms is the Animal Identification and Traceability System (ANITRAC), a digital platform that will electronically identify every animal using a unique code and create a lifetime record from birth, movement, sale, export and eventually slaughter or natural death.
Stakeholders say the system will help Kenya meet international traceability requirements that have limited access to lucrative global meat markets.
