Nairobi Star (Nairobi)
George Murage
27 May 2011
Kenya is facing an acute shortage of beef meat and is relying on neighbouring countries for meat. According to the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, the country has 13 million beef cattle which do not meet the current demand.
Kari Lanet Centre Director Dr William Muhuyi said despite the high number, the meat is not sufficient for the country’s needs. “The country is still facing a major meat deficit and the animals from the neighbouring countries have to be quarantined before they are slaughtered which is an expensive exercise,” he said. To this end, the institute has embarked on the construction of a centre for dairy excellence to meet the shortfall.
The World Bank will give USD30 million for the project through a five year programme. The centre to be constructed on Kari grounds in Naivasha will serve the East African region, Ethiopia and Rwanda, and is expected to boost the dairy sector in the region.
According to Kari assistant director of animal health Dr David Miano, the government will provide the human resource. Miano said that the funds will be used to construct a modern laboratory, an outreach programme and address research issues.
He was speaking to the press during a three day stakeholders workshop on beef value chain at Kari offices in Naivasha. The deputy director outreach partnership Dr Felistus Makini said the programme would have started were it not for a case pending in court.
She said that the ownership of the KARI land had affected the programme as part of the land in dispute was meant to be used for the construction of the centre.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Taken from:
Country Facing Meat Shortage