US Grains Council inks MOU with AKEFEMA to strengthen Kenya’s feed industry

KENYA – The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) has reinforced its commitment to advancing Kenya’s feed industry through a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers (AKEFEMA). 

Signed by USGC Regional Director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Ramy H. Taieb and AKEFEMA Chairman Joseph Karuri, the agreement aims to enhance feed production practices and support the country’s livestock sector.

This two-year collaboration is crucial as Kenya’s feed industry faces a 60% deficit, significantly impacting livestock production and the country’s ability to meet protein demand. 

While the sector is valued at approximately US$530 million, it is expected to grow by 30% by 2027, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

However, challenges persist due to limited access to key feed ingredients. White corn, the primary feed ingredient, remains constrained due to its role as a staple food. 

Additionally, supplies of alternative protein sources such as soybeans and soybean meal are insufficient, while restrictive import conditions further limit options.

To help address these issues, the MOU outlines plans for joint initiatives, including specialised training at a regional feed centre in Tunisia to improve feed production efficiency. 

“This continued agreement between the Council and AKEFEMA is an ongoing effort that aims for feed industry growth across the region and positioning the U.S. industry to meet the higher demand for feed grains,” Taieb said.

USGC representatives also met with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) in Kenya to discuss strategies for increasing U.S. feed grain exports to the region.

Supporting Tanzania’s growing poultry and dairy sector

Beyond Kenya, USGC staff and consultants from Tanzania and South Africa engaged with key players in Tanzania’s livestock and feed industry. 

The delegation visited poultry and dairy farms to assess the country’s feed requirements and identify areas for development.

One notable visit was to a layer producer operating a feed mill with a monthly capacity of 900 metric tons, supporting 24,000 hens across two facilities. 

This engagement provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by Tanzanian producers, including feed availability, cost efficiency, and nutritional optimisation.

“The poultry and dairy markets in Kenya and Tanzania are expanding, and producers there will need quality, affordable feed to keep up with their demand,” said Ana Maria Ballesteros, USGC deputy regional director for Europe and the Middle East.

To support this growth, the USGC advocates using U.S. feed ingredients such as distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and sorghum. 

These alternatives can provide critical nutritional and economic benefits for livestock producers, helping to stabilise feed supply chains and improve production efficiency.

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