Crop development and Irrigation
Strategic Objectives of the Department

Promote manufacturing based on agricultural raw materials.
Provision of technical guidance in crop husbandry management.
Promote and ensure the manufacturing of tools, equipment and machines used in crop production, Irrigation, food packaging , food storage, processing and adding value to agricultural output.
Supporting applied agricultural research and promoting technology delivery and mechanization of agricultural practices for improved production.
Provision of infrastructure to promote agricultural production and marketing as well as agri-processing and value chains.
Development, implementation and co-ordination of programs in Plant Disease and Pests Control in the agricultural sector.
Enforcement of regulations and standards on quality control of inputs, produce and products from the agricultural sector.
Promotion of market access for agricultural produces.
Development of programmes to intervene on soil and water management and conservation of the natural resources base for agriculture.
Collecting, maintaining and managing information on agricultural sector.
Improve crop production for Food security and Agri-Business.
Provision of high-quality subsidized farm inputs (fertilizer, certified seeds, seedlings etc) to farmers for demonstration and relief purposes.
Identification and training of high-value fruit tree nursery operators and owners.
Agricultural extension services including capacity building, outreach and market assessment.
Land development and management services such as the construction of water pans and irrigation infrastructure for horticultural production.
To localize and disseminate weather/climate information services.
Enhancing accessibility to affordable credit and insurance services for farmers.
Management of agricultural training centers and agricultural mechanization stations.
Land development services such as the construction of water pans for horticultural production for food security.
Formulating, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing county-specific policies.
Developing and enacting legislation and regulatory frameworks for county-specific policies.
Implementing national and county specific policies and legislation and
Grow proportion of agricultural land under Irrigation to at least one half of the total.



Livestock and fisheries

Livestock development



Co-invest in, encourage or otherwise promote feedlots and other modern livestock production systems.
Co-invest in, encourage or otherwise promote hay, animal feeds formulation and production.
Promote manufacturing based on livestock products and by-products.
Promote manufacturing of inputs for livestock production.
Promote and ensure the manufacturing of tools, equipment and machines used in livestock production, Irrigation, milk and meat packaging, storage, processing and adding value to livestock output.
Manage quality assurance for livestock feeds, Animal breeding, conservation of genetic material, monitoring and Evaluation of Livestock development projects.
Regulate inputs supply to meet the quality, efficacy and safety standards set out by the regulators under respective Acts.
Value addition of livestock products processing, including leather development and agribusiness, training livestock producers, processors and market groups.
Promote & Support Livestock marketing and Livestock value addition.
Establishment and management of livestock marketing systems and Livestock structures.
Proper management and rehabilitation of rangelands.
Promote Apiculture ( promotion and support of beekeeping production)
Organizing and streamlining of honey production and its marketing value chain.
Promote and support production in emerging livestock.
Provision of general extension service in modern & innovative livestock production technologies through trainings, demonstration, farm interventions, Exhibitions, exchange tours etc.
Ensure quality assurance in all livestock production extension services provided in the County.
Supporting and nurturing livestock related SMEs to develop viable / bankable business plans.



Fisheries



Coordinate the management and development of county fisheries.
Promote and ensure the manufacturing of tools, equipment and machines used in fish production, fish packaging, fish storage, processing and adding value to agricultural output.
Formation of fisgery enterprises
Procurement of fingerlings.
Training of fish farmers.
Promotion of fish quality assurance, value addition and marketing.
Provision and promotion of extension services to the fisheres stakeholders in the value chain.
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of fisheries projects and programmes.
Enforcement of fisheries regulations and compliance with management measures.
Digitization and demarcation and development of maps for cage culture and other potential areas.
Zonation for aquaculture-county specific disease control.
County fish seed bulking units.
On-farm trials.
Development and maintenance of fish landing stations and jetties, fish auction centers and fish landing fees.
Demarcation of all fish breeding areas and fencing of fish landing stations.
Fish trade licensing and fish movement permits.
Collection of fish production statistics and
Implementation of fisheries polict, fisheries management measures and regulations and limiting access to fishing.



Veterinary Services


Promote manufacturing of veterinary inputs, including medicines.
Promote and ensure the manufacturing of tools, equipment and machines used in the provision of veterinary services.
Supervise Disease vector control as well as Veterinary Public health & Extension Programs within the County.
Ensure revenue collection as per the County Finance Act.
Coordinating, Monitoring and Reviewing all Disease and Vector control activities in the County.
Facilities for accommodation, care & burial of animals.
Licensing of dogs.
Animal disease surveillance and control
Leather value chain development
Establish and operationalize the County Veterinary Diagnostic/Laboratory Services, coupled with a robust Participatory Disease Search (PDS) and Surveillance systems (e-surveillance).
Encourage Disease Free Zones and Organized Livestock screening services across all Livestock holding/Sales yards.
Provide regulated Hides and skins and other related products development activities in the County.
Licensing of abattoirs as well as tanneries.
Supervise all Private and public Animal Health Providers in the County as per The Veterinary Surgeons and para-veterinarians Act
Establish Real-Time Community Disease Reporting and Response mechanism across the County.
Establish and operationalize county vaccines cold chain facility mechanism and
Fish health certification.

Following perennial drought in Laikipia County that has resulted in food shortage, farmers in Matanya have devised innovative ways to tap runoff water for farming.
The innovation which involves constructing shallow farm ponds of about a meter deep to harvest both runoff and rain water can hold water in the ground for about four months which boost soil moisture and hence ensure farm produce thrive even during dry periods.
The farming technology which is in pilot phase, introduced and supported by Akina foundation, an Indian based organisation that seeks to address climate change challenges, has since seen about 25 farmers in Matanya, Laikipia central embrace the innovation aimed at increasing their productivity.
The organisation is working in collaboration with Egerton University which supplies farmers with drought resistant crops like maize, sorghum, millet, sweet potatoes and Napier grass.
Patrick Ndumia, a farmer and one of the beneficiaries of the technology says that in the past three years, he had not harvested any crops due to drought but after embracing use of farm ponds, he was able to get sufficient harvest last year.
‘’I am happy with this new farming method, there are some changes compared with previous years when we had no farm ponds. It was very dry unlike now where I have plenty of food, thanks to these ponds,” says Ndumia.
He reveals that farm ponds retain water that drips underground to be utilised by the crops during dry weather.
Muriithi Kihuria, another beneficiary noted that with the farm ponds, he has been able to support his family and urged residents to embrace the technology in a bid to address food insecurity in the county.
‘’After benefiting from this farm pond, I have harvested sufficient food and I applaud the donors for promoting modern farming. My call is to residents to embrace the technology in alleviating hunger,” notes Kihuria.
Another farmer Julia Nyeri also lauded the modern farming method by noting it had helped to alleviate hunger in the community and at the same time appreciated the drought resistant crops they had received from Egerton University.
Akina foundation director Avijit Malik said that the farming technology was ideal in dry areas since it was cheap and affordable to implement in addressing food shortage.
“The challenge farmers experience here is that they don’t get sufficient rainfall and to address that especially during drought season, they only need about 200 cubic meters of water,’’ reveals Malik.
He points out that, after engaging with the farmers in Matanya, they noticed that due to adverse climate change they experienced crop failure which resulted in Akina coming up with the farm ponds system to address the effects of drought.
Malik said that they piloted pond farming in July 2023 and now about 31 ponds have been constructed across Matanya to conserve moisture and boost crop production.
He noted that with sufficient resources, they will be able to support all the farmers in the county and hence appealed to agricultural stakeholders for partnership and funding.

In recent years, the impact of climate change has become increasingly evident, posing significant challenges to communities worldwide. In the heart of Kenya, Laikipia County finds itself at the forefront of addressing these challenges, recognizing the urgent need for collective action to build resilience, foster sustainable development, and ensure peace.
Laikipia County, like many regions across Africa, faces a myriad of environmental challenges, including climate extremes, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and conflicts (e.g., human vs wildlife, farmer vs herder and human vs human) over natural resources such as water and pasture). These challenges not only threaten the livelihoods of local communities but also pose risks to security and stability within the area. However, amidst these challenges lies an opportunity for transformation and innovation.
Science plays a pivotal role in addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change. By leveraging scientific research and innovation, regions such as Laikipia County have access to invaluable insights and solutions to help communities adapt to and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change, fostering peace and stability. Consequently, the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT through the CGIAR Initiative on Climate Resilience (ClimBeR) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), and the national Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Multi-Stakeholder Platform (CSAMSP) developed a training course titled Climate, Peace, and Security in Agriculture sector.
Designed to improve the understanding of the climate, peace, and security nexus within the agricultural sector, with a specific focus on climate-smart agriculture (CSA) interventions, the course was rolled out this past week at a training workshop in Laikipia County which saw the establishment of the Laikipia County CSAMSP (HSHC). The establishment of the county-level CSAMSP marked a significant milestone in Laikipia County’s journey towards a climate resilient peace, providing an opportunity to deepen farmer knowledge on adaptation and mitigation efforts, thereby promoting resilience. Representatives from various sectors, including county officials, development actors, and local farmers, came together to chart a course for collaborative action, more so on the integration of CSA interventions with peacebuilding strategies to stabilize food production, ease pressure on natural resources, and prevent maladaptation. This integration is timely for Laikipia County, given its susceptibility to climate-related risks such as resource-based tensions among pastoralists and human-wildlife conflicts over water.
Key discussions centred on the integration of considerations on climate-induced conflict risks into county-level policies and programs, the importance of cross-silos collaboration for peace and stability, and the role of indigenous knowledge in shaping sustainable agricultural practices. Participants highlighted the need for coordinated efforts to address challenges related to water scarcity, human-wildlife conflicts, and the promotion of peace-positive climate-smart agricultural techniques.
The course pilot training served as a catalyst for collective action and collaboration towards building a more resilient and sustainable future for Laikipia County. It sets the stage for aligning county-level policies with national and international frameworks, enhancing investment in capacity-building initiatives to empower farmers, fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, and promoting research and innovation efforts to develop context-specific solutions for climate-induced security risks.
A similar training will be held later in the year in Turkana County, further harnessing the power of science, partnerships, and innovation to overcome climate change challenges and pave the way for peaceful and climate-smart futures.

Written by: Dr Benson Kenduiywo, Anna Belli and Joy Muruku (Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT)
Top Photo: Participants at the Laikipia County (Kenya) Climate Smart Agriculture Multi-Stakeholder’s Platform (CSAMSP) Creation and Climate Security Course Pilot

The Laikipia County Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries is led by Edwin Dennis Kasoo, who serves as the County Executive Committee Member (CECM). Within the department, there are also Chief Officers, including Ms. Mary Gichuru is the Chief Officer for Livestock, Veterinary, and Fisheries, and Ms. Elizabeth Mwangi who is the Acting Chief Officer for Crops and Irrigation.