Kari to set up Sh2.4 billion dairy centre

• The World Bank’s East Africa agriculture productivity project covers Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia. It estimated to cost Sh8 billion in five years.
• The centre has developed a livestock embryo transfer technology that will enable small-scale farmers to have affordable access to high-yielding breeds.
• Livestock keepers will access varieties when more farmers start using the technology.

The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari) is set to develop a dairy centre of excellence for East Africa under a Sh2.4 billion initiative funded by the World Bank.

It will have a research centre and also host training. “The funds will be used to promote research in dairy farming and improve infrastructure at the institution,” said Richard ole Pulei, a researcher at Kari Naivasha during a tour of the centre by journalists allied to the Media for Environment Science, Health and Agriculture Association.

The World Bank’s East Africa agriculture productivity project covers Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia. It estimated to cost Sh8 billion in five years.

Embryo transfer

Uganda is leading a research on cassava, Ethiopia on wheat while Tanzania is working on rice. Findings will be released to farmers to help them increase yields.

The centre has developed a livestock embryo transfer technology that will enable small-scale farmers to have affordable access to high-yielding breeds.

“We are launching the pilot project before rolling out to more farmers before the end of the year,” said Mr Pulei. The technology will replace conventional methods of artificial insemination.

“It will no longer be an issue of luck to have two calves,” he said about the technology that involves implanting a developed embryo into a recipient cow.

Livestock keepers will access varieties when more farmers start using the technology.