The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) has partnered with Kenya to advance sustainable livestock value chains in the country.
The AU-IBAR and Kenya participated in the Hand-in-Hand (HiHi) Global Investment Forum 2024 that took place from October 15-17 in Rome.
The forum served as a platform for African countries to showcase investment opportunities aimed at transforming agricultural practices and promoting economic growth.
A key initiative under this partnership is the Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFS) Project, which focuses on securing transformative investments in feed and fodder systems essential for livestock development.
Among the six African countries involved in the RAFFS project, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and Cameroon were actively represented at the forum, demonstrating a collective commitment to enhancing agricultural sustainability.
AU-IBAR’s delegation included coordinator Sarah Ossiya and David Maina, a business development expert in feed and fodder.
They engaged with stakeholders, including investors and multilateral development banks, to discuss potential investment avenues.
Of the 46 commodities presented at the forum, 20 were related to livestock feed and fodder, underscoring the sector’s significance in regional agricultural strategies.
Kenya showcased several key areas for investment, including maize production, cotton ginning, pasture seed multiplication, pasture storage and black soldier fly farming.
Principal secretary of the State Department of Livestock Development in Kenya, Jonathan Mueke said this year his country “brought compelling investment cases” to the forum.
“We are exploring opportunities in animal feed production, warehousing and value addition,” Mueke said.
These projects are expected to attract $231 million, benefit 700,000 people and reduce carbon emissions by 100,000 tonnes per annum.
The Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum is designed to facilitate national authorities in presenting agricultural investment opportunities while focusing on long-term finance to support private investors in developing countries.
JN/APA