Makueni County is set to benefit from a new partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) aimed at transforming livestock feed production, strengthening agribusiness, and creating sustainable opportunities for young people.

FAO to Partner with Makueni County in Five-Year Project to Boost Livestock Feed Production and Youth Opportunities

On Tuesday, FAO officials paid a courtesy call to Deputy Governor H.E. Lucy Mulili where they presented details of the initiative, dubbed CASHA (Creating Shared Value in the Livestock Sector with Young People in Kenya’s ASALs). The project will run for five years and will be implemented in 15 counties across Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), including Makueni.

According to FAO, the CASHA project is designed to address challenges in the livestock sector, particularly the scarcity and high cost of quality feed, which continues to undermine livestock productivity in ASAL regions. Through the program, more than 2,000 youth in Makueni County are expected to benefit directly by engaging in sustainable fodder production, livestock feed processing, and agribusiness ventures.

Deputy Governor Mulili welcomed the partnership, noting that livestock remains a cornerstone of household incomes and food security in the county. “This program will not only enhance farmer earnings but also provide our youth and women with employment opportunities along the livestock value chain. It will contribute significantly to food and nutrition security for our people,” she said.

Makueni, like many other ASAL counties, has faced repeated challenges in livestock production due to erratic rainfall, shrinking pasturelands, and the rising cost of commercial feeds. CASHA seeks to address these challenges by introducing innovative, climate-smart practices that improve feed availability while safeguarding the environment.

Among the interventions expected under the project are:

  • Training of youth groups and cooperatives in climate-resilient fodder production techniques such as drought-tolerant forage crops.
  • Support for feed entrepreneurs, including provision of technical assistance and linkages to markets.
  • Establishment of model demonstration farms to showcase best practices in feed production and storage.
  • Promotion of circular economy approaches, such as converting agricultural by-products into livestock feed.
  • Strengthening of livestock feed value chains to ensure commercialization and long-term sustainability.

The program will also integrate environmental stewardship by encouraging practices that conserve soil and water, reduce land degradation, and promote biodiversity. This is in line with FAO’s global agenda of building climate-resilient agricultural systems.

In addition to youth empowerment, the initiative is expected to create space for women to take part in agribusiness activities. By linking women and youth to markets and finance opportunities, FAO and Makueni County aim to make livestock feed production a viable income-generating sector.

Speaking during the meeting, FAO officials emphasized that the CASHA project goes beyond short-term interventions. It is designed to build sustainable systems that will continue benefiting communities even after the five-year cycle. “The livestock sector in Kenya’s ASALs has untapped potential. By engaging young people and women in fodder production and feed processing, we are laying the foundation for long-term transformation,” said one of the FAO representatives.

The rollout of CASHA comes at a critical time when Kenya is intensifying efforts to address food insecurity and unemployment, particularly among the youth. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that unemployment remains disproportionately high in ASAL counties, while livestock production continues to face climate-induced challenges.

For Makueni, the initiative adds to ongoing county government programs that promote sustainable agriculture and value addition. Deputy Governor Mulili expressed optimism that the FAO partnership will complement these efforts and help the county achieve its vision of a resilient, food-secure population.

The CASHA project is expected to begin with baseline assessments in the selected counties, followed by capacity-building sessions, establishment of demonstration plots, and rollout of youth-centered agribusiness models.

As implementation progresses, FAO and Makueni County will work closely with local farmer cooperatives, youth groups, and private sector players to ensure inclusivity and sustainability.

For the more than 2,000 young people in Makueni set to participate, CASHA represents more than an agricultural intervention. It is a chance to access training, jobs, and markets in a sector that remains vital to Kenya’s economy.

https://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FAO-PARTNERS-WITH-MAKUENI-TO-BOOST-LIVESTOCK-FEED-PRODUCTION6-e1756292645719-1024x683.jpghttps://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FAO-PARTNERS-WITH-MAKUENI-TO-BOOST-LIVESTOCK-FEED-PRODUCTION6-e1756292645719-150x150.jpgFarmersTrendFarming NewsMakueni County is set to benefit from a new partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) aimed at transforming livestock feed production, strengthening agribusiness, and creating sustainable opportunities for young people.On Tuesday, FAO officials paid a courtesy call to Deputy Governor H.E. Lucy Mulili...New Generation Culture in Agriculture