CS Chelugui Urges Baringo Farmers to Embrace Feedlot Project to Boost Livestock Earnings
Baringo, Kenya – Co-operatives and MSMEs Development Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui has called on Baringo farmers to take advantage of Kenya’s first national feedlot programme, saying the initiative has the potential to transform livestock production and uplift household incomes in pastoralist communities. Addressing residents during a dissemination forum on the Fourth Medium Term Plan (2023–2027) at the Kenya School of Government in Baringo, the CS encouraged farmers to enroll in the Olmarai Livestock Cooperative Society, which will run the pilot feedlot in Mogotio Sub-County.
Chelugui explained that the project, implemented through the State Department of Cooperatives and ten partnering ministries, aims to introduce 15,000 hybrid bulls to improve the quality of beef and leather products for domestic consumption and export. He urged farmers to register with an initial fee of Sh1,000 and purchase shares worth Sh5,000 to position themselves for early benefits. The CS revealed that 600 bulls, 200 he-goats, and 200 rams had already been dispatched to kick-start livestock improvement activities, following a week-long sensitisation and recruitment drive across the county’s seven sub-counties.
Local leaders welcomed the programme, noting that it aligns with the county’s agricultural strengths. Governor Benjamin Cheboi praised the national government for prioritising a sector that supports the livelihoods of thousands of households. He noted that Baringo hosts more than one million cattle, sheep, and goats, adding that structured feedlot systems would help farmers fetch better prices, reduce losses, and enhance productivity. Assistant Commissioner for Cooperatives Peter Wanjohi added that the programme targets at least 5,000 farmers and will provide seed capital to support the first batch of 400 cows once the initiative begins in the 2024–2025 financial year.
Looking ahead, Chelugui said the government plans to expand the feedlot model to three or four more sites within Baringo. He also highlighted an upcoming one farmer, one dairy cow initiative, developed in partnership with the European Union, as part of long-term efforts to strengthen Kenya’s dairy sector. The government now hopes county administrations and cooperatives will work closely to ensure farmers fully benefit and that livestock agribusiness becomes a key driver of economic growth in Baringo.