Northern Kenya

State plans to issue digital IDs to farmers' livestock in new production quest

Principal Secretary State Department of Livestock Development, Jonathan Mueke interacts with farmers showcasing their produce in Garissa. (County Press)

By Barack Oduor | Thursday, June 13, 2024

In the new system, all livestock farmers will be issued with a digital identification (ID)for their livestock, which would be significant in allowing them to monitor feeding, and disease control measures.

The government plans to have all livestock reared by pastoralists issued with an identification and traceability system to improve animal husbandry.

In the new system, all livestock farmers will be issued with a digital identification (ID)for their livestock, which would be significant in allowing them to monitor feeding, and disease control measures.

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Among the disease control measures the new tagging or identification system in livestock aims to monitor periodical vaccinations, deworming, and tick and pest control.

Jonathan Mueke, the Livestock Development Principal Secretary indicated that the tender for provision of the IDs has already been flouted in an ongoing process.

"Livestock farmers will be given a digital ID for their animals, which will enable them to present a certificate of their livestock rearing practices when they take their animals to the slaughterhouse, thus ensuring that they get a fair price," said Mweke.

He spoke during the third edition of the Kenya Meat Expo at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.

According to the PS, introducing the new identification systems for livestock across the country will be a big milestone in dealing effectively with the cattle rustling menace that has resulted in the loss of livestock, displacements, and deaths.

In his explanation, the system is set to ensure that the local livestock supply chain conforms to the global food traceability system.

"Global traceability is extremely important for food items and countries' are not going to import your products if you can't trace them to the farm from where they came from," he explained.

The traceability that follows the production of food, its processing and eventually distribution is the new tool used for controlling dangers, giving out product information, and ensuring that the products in the market are genuine and authentic.

The idea of identifying livestock digitally in the country is not new. In 2022, the then Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya said the government allocated resources for the programme and warned cartels against fighting the initiative, which is meant to improve security and farmers' income.

Munya said the government had a strategy to create a disease-free zone in Meru, Isiolo, Laikipia, Samburu and surrounding areas.