The Kenyan poultry industry is facing a critical juncture as stakeholders, especially small-scale farmers, voice their opposition to an upcoming trade agreement between Kenya and the United States. This deal, if ratified, would allow the importation of finished poultry products from the US, posing a significant threat to local producers.
Lydia Wanjiku, a committed poultry farmer from Kiamumbi, Ruiru, owning a flock of 1000 chickens, joins the chorus of dissent. At a recent Farmer Sensitization Meeting in Nairobi, Wanjiku expressed her fears, highlighting the potential consequences for her business and customers.
The Poultry Breeders Association of Kenya has also raised alarms in a memorandum to Alfred Ombudo K’Ombudo, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industries. The memorandum outlines the challenges faced by local producers in competing with the US market due to differences in production costs, standards, and regulations.
Importantly, the association emphasizes the broader implications of allowing mass imports, including job losses, hindered growth, and threats to food security, particularly in vulnerable communities. They call on US lawmakers to consider these ramifications carefully.
Kenyan poultry farmers operate under distinct constraints compared to their American counterparts, leading to higher production costs. Allowing a flood of imports would not only harm local farmers like Wanjiku but also undermine decades of investment and development efforts in the sector.
Stakeholders in the Kenyan poultry sector are urging the government to reconsider its position on the pending trade agreement with the USA. They stress the need to prioritize the interests of local farmers and businesses by excluding finished poultry products from the deal.
photo source: Google
By: Montel Kamau
Serrari Financial Analyst
16th April, 2024
