The 90 per cent export tariff on raw hides and skins aimed at protecting leather factories had seen prices fall drastically.
KVA chairman added that there was need to rethink the Kenya Meat Commission strategy saying its current board should be disbanded for failing to return the public entity to profitability.
He said the situation had been worsened by delayed payment of stipends for veterinary professionals on internship thereby leaving livestock keepers at the mercy of agro-vet dealers.
Veterinarians and other stakeholders in the livestock sector have called for the removal of the high taxes imposed on raw leather exports in order to save the leather industry.
Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA), Kenya Paraveterinary Professionals and Livestock Marketing Council said the 90 per cent export tariff on raw hides and skins had failed its role of protecting local leather industries.
In a statement, the groups said the measure had instead seen prices of raw hides and skins fall drastically, causing big losses to farmers and traders.
“The first step is to revoke the export of raw leather ban as Kenyan tanneries have no capacity to absorb all leather produced locally until such a time when more tanneries will be established,” said the statement read by KVA chairman Dr Samuel Kanyariri.
"We request the CS to give a window for export of excess hides and skins until such a time when factories will have the capacity to take all hides and skin available in the country. Millions of shillings have been lost." he said
The livestock industry stakeholders also want the government to allocate more funds and put in place new policies to boost the ailing livestock sector, saying the government must publicly declare plans to revive the sector.
Leather exports in tonnes. SOURCE: KNBS
KMC strategy
The KVA chairman added that there was need to rethink the Kenya Meat Commission strategy saying its current board should be disbanded for failing to return the public entity to profitability.
“Inadequate quality veterinary services in livestock-rich regions has an increase of zoonotic diseases (rabies, Rift valley Fever, Brucellosis and Anthrax) which has provided unscrupulous traders with a leeway to sell unwholesome drugs to farmers.
“Such appalling animal welfare standards have led to high chemical residues in most slaughtered animal products making it impossible for Kenya meat products to access international markets,” he said.
Dr Kanyariri added that the sector also faced fierce competition from uncontrolled low-priced meat imports where Kenyan meat products hardly accessed formal retail chains.
The KVA boss said Kenya needs to disregard the World Bank fronted Structural Adjustment Programme that discouraged employment of veterinary professional and immediately hire 500 veterinary surgeons and 1,000 veterinary para-professionals.
He said the situation had been worsened by delayed payment of stipends for veterinary professionals on internship thereby leaving livestock keepers at the mercy of agro-vet dealers.
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Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.
