Kenya completes construction of modern semen production facility

Cattle grazing [Photo:Courtesy]

Kenya has constructed the largest and most modern semen production centre in Africa, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The facility, located in Kitale, will start operations next year.

“I am happy to announce that the Government has successfully completed the second bull station, which has the capacity to produce one million doses of semen annually,” said Agriculture Chief Administrative Secretary Andrew Tuimur when he launched training on livestock breeding at the Agricultural Development Corporation’s bull station in Endebess.

Besides Kenya, the training drew participants from Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Zanzibar, Burundi, and Rwanda.

Kenya has an annual deficit of about 500,000 straws of semen and the new centre is expected to fill the gap.

The Kenya Animal Genetic Resource Centre in Kabete, Kiambu County, produces 700,000 doses of semen annually.

Of these, one per cent of the semen is exported, three per cent is sold to private and Government farms and the remaining 96 per cent is bought by farmers.

Mr Tuimur said semen from the new facility would be sold to local farmers and the surplus exported to neighbouring countries.

The new plant is expected to bring down the cost of semen.