Isiolo Country in Kenya is receiving good tidings in support of the back-borne of its economy- livestock- going by the recent initiatives aimed at developing the sub-sector. All these are towards ensuring that the livestock sub-sector plays its rightful role of improving the livelihoods of the residents of the county who highly depend on it. To remove the marketing bottlenecks that have for a long time curtailed livestock farmers from receiving good prices for their animals, a livestock market has been set up in the country by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within its Feed the Future Programme at a cost of Kshs 50 million.  Already, this intervention is bearing fruits as livestock keepers sold stock worth more than Sh10 million in less than six hours of the launch of the market. The market is attracting buyers from Nairobi, a major hub for trade and consumption of livestock products, and surrounding counties notably Nyeri, Laikipia, Kirinyaga Murang’a, and Meru. In addition, the market is also availing a platform where the livestock farmers can access other goods such as fresh farm produce thereby improving their overall nutritional wellbeing. Success of this market has leveraged establishment of one more major livestock market and four other smaller ones in the country to be completed later in the year. This initiative is a classic case of how last-mile infrastructure can revolutionize an agricultural value chain to the benefit of all actors involved.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/article/2000180066/us-ambassador...