Africa’s Livestock Industry Gets a Boost with the Launch of Development Platform

The African Pastoral Markets Development (APMD) Platform has officially launched a transformative, four-year pan-African initiative under the African Union’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR). This initiative aims to revolutionize pastoral systems by fostering market-driven solutions that promote inclusive agricultural transformation across Africa.

Held in Nairobi, the launch addressed pressing challenges faced by pastoral communities, including economic integration, food security, and climate resilience. The APMD Platform seeks to strategically integrate pastoral communities into regional and international livestock markets by strengthening policies, expanding private sector engagement, and improving access to reliable data for informed decision-making. It emphasizes empowering women and youth, increasing access to quality and nutritious food, and enhancing climate resilience to protect vulnerable communities in arid and semi-arid regions.

Kenya and Nigeria have been identified as pilot countries for the program. These two nations will demonstrate innovative, market-oriented strategies that can be implemented across the Horn of Africa and Sahel regions. Their leadership will showcase the potential for collaborative and regionally tailored solutions to address the challenges faced by pastoral systems.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Christopher Wanga, Director of Livestock Policy, Research, and Regulations at Kenya’s State Department for Livestock Development, described the initiative as a significant milestone. He highlighted how it aligns with the Kenya Kwanza government’s priorities for the livestock sector, which include enhancing the dairy industry, transforming the meat value chain, and revitalizing the leather industry. Dr. Wanga noted that the initiative comes at a critical time, as the livestock sector plays a vital role in improving local and export markets, boosting milk production, and driving economic transformation.

Kenya has implemented strategies like the National Livestock Masterplan, which provides a framework for targeted investments based on comprehensive data. This enables counties to focus on competitive value chains such as dairy, beef, and poultry. Additionally, Kenya is tackling long-standing issues like feed shortages and livestock diseases through public-private partnerships. These efforts include the establishment of 450 feedlots in arid and semi-arid regions and vaccination campaigns for cattle, sheep, and goats to combat diseases such as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and foot-and-mouth disease.

Nigeria’s Minister of Livestock Development Mr. Idi Mukhtar Maiha expressed the country’s commitment to transitioning from subsistence farming to a modern, resilient livestock sector. Nigeria, with its population of over 250 million people, is Africa’s largest market and sees enormous potential in improving livestock production, trade, and disease control. Mukhtar emphasized the government’s efforts to create infrastructure in grazing reserves and develop international cattle trade routes. By attracting local and international investors, Nigeria aims to boost ranching, dairy processing, and beef production.

To address critical infrastructure gaps, Nigeria is investing in veterinary services, disease surveillance posts, and livestock resting points along trade routes. These interventions will not only improve animal health but also facilitate data collection on livestock movement and quality. The government is also modernizing West Africa’s transhumance protocols to support cross-border livestock trade while addressing challenges such as climate change and disease outbreaks. Mukhtar emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, noting that pastoralists transcend borders as their livestock movements are dictated by seasons and markets.

Both countries highlighted the crucial role of data in guiding their interventions. Kenya’s National Livestock Masterplan ensures targeted investments, while Nigeria has begun taking inventory of grazing reserves, cattle routes, and infrastructure to streamline trade and improve livestock productivity.