Category: BUSINESS

Zoho, a global technology company offering the most comprehensive suite of business software applications in the industry, today announced that its enterprise collaboration and communications platform, Workplace, now serves more than 16 million users globally.

The company attributes this substantial growth to increasing business demand for contextual applications with utmost standards for user privacy as well as rising costs from other collaboration platform providers.

Since the start of the pandemic, Zoho Workplace adoption has accelerated as businesses of all sizes transitioned to digital-forward, remote work.

“Zoho has always been about persistent long-term execution, and our investment in Zoho Workplace attests to that. As competitors continue to raise prices or eliminate free editions for those who need them most, Workplace continues to serve businesses and professionals with a feature-rich suite that increases productivity while remaining broadly affordable,” said Hyther Nizam, President MEA, Zoho Corporation “Our ad-free approach and respect towards user privacy will add to the overall experience that our solution provides.”

Zoho Workplace experienced 34% year-to-year growth in 2021, with more than 40% of new customers making the switch from Google and Microsoft. Growth was strong in all segments, with the SMB customer base increased 40%, mid-sized by 36%, and enterprises by more than 20%. In Kenya, the Workplace customer base saw 73% growth in 2021 while overall growth in Africa was 59%.

Demand is largely driven by businesses still facing the harsh realities of the pandemic, and its impact on their growth and budget. Unforeseen hikes in operational costs to support collaboration makes it more difficult for these businesses to recover and thrive. Within days of Google announcing that it would be ending the free edition of Workspace, Zoho’s Workplace platform experienced a 120% increase in migrations from Google-hosted domains.

“Zoho is unique amongst its productivity suite competitors for not rolling out a cost increase for 2022, nor removing their freemium offerings,” commented Thomas Randall, Senior Research Analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. “Other providers have justified price add-ons and increases to reflect the additional value they believe their customers have received over the pandemic for using their tools. Yet freemium offerings and price consistency have been central for many customers and businesses to stay afloat during lockdowns. Now that such offerings are in short supply, Zoho will likely see increased demand for their Workplace services as customers seek strong ROI for productivity and collaboration software.”

Zoho Workplace is available in three editions: Standard (KES210 per user, per month, billed annually) Professional (KES420 per user, per month, billed annually), and Mail-only (KES70 per user, per month, billed annually).

About Zoho

With 50+ apps in nearly every major business category, including sales, marketing, customer support, accounting, and back-office operations, and an array of productivity and collaboration tools, Zoho Corporation is one of the world’s most prolific technology companies. Zoho is privately held and profitable with more than 10,000 employees. Zoho is headquartered in Chennai, India. Additional offices are in the United States, India, Japan, China, Canada, Singapore, Mexico, Australia, the Netherlands, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. For more information, please visit www.zoho.com/

Friday, 28^th January 2022, Rusumo, Rwanda: The East African Business Council (EABC) CEO Mr. John Bosco Kalisa urges the United Republic of Tanzania to fast-track the use of a national identity card as a travel document to ease the movement of cross border traders across the EAC region.

In his remarks at the EABC-TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) Public-Private Dialogue at Rusumo OSBP, Mr. Kalisa stated that Rusumo One-Stop Border Post connects Rwanda and Tanzania and is an important gateway to the Democratic Republic of Congo. He explained before COVID-19 Rusumo OSBP used to clears 400 trucks daily.

Tanzania’s exports of goods to Rwanda hit USD. 269.6million while Rwanda’s exports to Tanzania reached USD.5 million in 2019 (International Trade Centre).

Mr. Kalisa also urged Tanzania to adopt the EAC Single Tourist Visa to lure more tourists into the EAC bloc. Ms. Happiness Ruangisa from Tanzania High Commission to Rwanda said that COVID-19 disrupted global supply chains hence the need to facilitate intra-EAC trade amid the pandemic for the resilience of our economies.

Mr. Charles Omusana, Principal Economist from the EAC Secretariat, said “improving trade facilitation is key to catalyzing the EAC Common Market and Customs Union.”

Ms. Editha Paschal, Board Member of Tanzania Women Chambers of Commerce urged the Government to enable cross-border women to acquire equipment to reduce post-harvest losses, access affordable loans, roll out sensitization on product standards and establish child-day care services near the border. She also appealed to the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NELSAP) to repair stores and shops on the Tanzania side which collapse.

Mr. Tayebwa James, CBT Policy Specialist from the Ministry of Trade & Industry Rwanda said that Tanzania and Rwanda signed MoUs on the promotion of cross-border trade and elimination of NTBs. He invited traders to take part in the upcoming joint border committee to discuss and formulate a concrete action plan on MoU.

Rusumo border is currently open for truck drivers and cargo-only and truck drivers have appealed to the Government of Rwanda to stop the mandatory COVD-19 rapid re-testing for drivers entering Rwanda via the border.

Ms. Eugenia Mwesiumo, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation -United Republic of Tanzania reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to boost bilateral trade ties.

The public-private dialogue also recommended for the plant health inspectorate services to be offered at the border of Rusumo to facilitate trade and abolition of the USD.100 Single Entry Business Visa into Tanzania for service providers from the EAC Partner States and EAC Partner States to grant a 6-month visa to East African travelers in line with the Common Market Protocol.

The EABC-TMEA public-private dialogue at Rusumo OSBP attracted over 40 delegates composed of Officials from the Ministry of EAC Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade & Industrialization, trade facilitation agencies, importers, exporters, transporters & freight forwarders and, women cross-border traders.

Nairobi, Friday,28^th January 2022: Key stakeholders in the tourism and travel industries have agreed to partner to significantly resuscitate the sectors which have been adversely affected by the restrictions occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

During a consultative forum hosted by the African Travel & Tourism Association, (ATTA), the stakeholders who included the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), Kenya Airways (KQ), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), and the tourism sector umbrella bodies under the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF), agreed to correspondingly promote synergies between government and the private sector to enhance tourism and travel in the country and beyond the borders.

Kenya has a large membership in ATTA which is a member-driven trade association that promotes tourism to Africa from all corners of the world. The association which has 600 members in Africa and 90 in Kenya serves and supports businesses in Africa and represents buyers and suppliers of tourism products across 21 African countries.

ATTA president Nigel Vere Nicoll says “Tourism and Aviation are sectors that are symbiotic and need each other to fully thrive. We have met to ensure that we come up with solutions and a standard way of operating in terms of the safety protocols and also come up with ideas that can propel travel to Kenya. We all need to partner to have the “Karibu Kenya” message to the world as well as create confidence that Kenya is open and safe for travelers”

In November of 2021, Kenya Airways partnered with the KTB to promote Kenya as a tourist destination internationally and locally through the branding of KQ assets creating visibility of the destination in the airline’s network of 41 destinations. Earlier in the same year, low-cost carrier Jambo jet partnered with KTB to promote the destination to domestic and regional travelers.

Kenya Tourism Board CEO Dr. Betty Radier says “We cannot emphasize the role of synergies and partnerships enough as we work towards the restart of tourism. We must continue to take advantage of the new opportunities in travel and also look out for emerging trends.

For instance, the pandemic period allowed us to enhance our tourism offering a good example being the Magical Kenya Signature Experiences (MKSE). We have also been able to participate in forums and expos which indicates that preparations for a comeback are in top gear,” said Dr. Radier

On his part KCAA CEO Gilbert Kibe said that aviation and tourism are and will remain key partners because they are interconnected, adding that air transport is a great enabler for tourism and links people with the destinations of their choice “Air travel facilitates trade and tourism among other sectors that drive economies.

When there are restrictions or disruptions to air transport business tends to suffer and all sectors are unable to thrive. Kenya is lucky because our capital Nairobi is a hub for many airlines and the people are peaceful and hospitable, these are some of the areas we are leveraging on to grow the sectors” said Kibe.

On his part, Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka says that the tourism, hospitality, and aviation protocols have been important because they encouraged travel amidst many adjustments that the airline industry has experienced. He pointed out that it would also be important for the sector players to learn from other destinations and airlines to remain competitive. Kilavuka also noted that the forecast for summer looked promising but would not hit the 2019 numbers.

The Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) Chairman, Fred Odek lauded the collaboration between government and the tourism private sector at a time when the pandemic has changed a lot of the business processes in a bid to curb the pandemic,

During the pandemic in 2020, the sectors synergized to create the health and safety protocols that have guided operations in tourism and air travel. In the same year, the destination received the WTTC Safe Travel Stamp in recognition of the implementation of the global health and hygiene standardized protocols. In 2021, the protocols were reviewed and standardized to suit the current scenarios.

Dubai, UAE, 27 January 2022: Emirates will resume passenger operations between Dubai and Kenya starting from 29 January, offering customers more choice, superior value, and enhanced connectivity to and through Dubai.

Customers flying in and out of Nairobi can safely connect to Dubai and an array of onwards connections to Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, West Asia, and Australasia. 

Emirates will operate 10 weekly flights to Nairobi from 29 January. EK 719 and 720 will operate on Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, taking off from Dubai at 0935hrs and arriving in Nairobi at 1345hrs, in turn leaving Nairobi at 1530hrs, and landing in Dubai at 2130hrs.

EK 721 and 722 will fly on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with EK 721 taking off from Dubai at 0210hrs, arriving in Nairobi at 0620hrs. EK 722 will leave Nairobi at 2355hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0555hrs.

All passengers traveling from Emirates’ African network with Dubai as their final destination require a 48 hour PCR test. Passengers must present a valid negative Covid-19 PCR test certificate for a test conducted at an approved facility, and validity must be calculated from the time the sample was collected.

Upon arrival in Dubai, passengers will undergo an additional Covid-19 PCR test and remain in self-quarantine until the results of the test are received.

Passengers traveling from these destinations and transiting in Dubai are required to follow the rules and requirements of their final destination.

For more information on entry requirements for international visitors to Dubai visit: – https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/help/covid-19/dubai-travel-requirements/tourists/

All flights can be booked on emirates.com, with OTAs, and via travel agents.

Since it safely resumed tourism activity in July 2020, Dubai remains one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, especially during the winter season. The city is open for international business and leisure visitors.

From sun-soaked beaches and heritage activities to world-class hospitality and leisure facilities, Dubai offers a variety of world-class experiences. It was one of the world’s first cities to obtain the Safe Travels stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) – which endorses Dubai’s comprehensive and effective measures to ensure guest health and safety.

Dubai is currently hosting the world for Expo 2020, until March 2022. Through the theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, Expo 2020 Dubai aims to inspire people by showcasing the best examples of collaboration, innovation, and cooperation from around the world.

Its programme is packed with experiences to suit all ages and interests, including a rich line-up of themed weeks, entertainment, and edutainment. Art and culture fans, as well as food and technology enthusiasts, can explore exhibits, workshops, performances, live shows, and more.

Flexibility and Assurance: Emirates continues to lead the industry with innovative products and services and recently took its customer care initiatives further with even more generous and flexible booking policies, which have been extended to 31 May 2022, Covid-19 medical travel insurance, and is helping loyal customers retain their miles and tier status.

Health and safety: Keeping the health and wellbeing of its passengers as the top priority, Emirates has introduced a comprehensive set of safety measures at every step of the customer journey.

The airline has also recently introduced contactless technology and scaled up its digital verification capabilities to provide its customers world-class even with more opportunities to utilize the IATA Travel Pass, which can now be used across 50 airports served by Emirates.

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Troubled Mumias Sugar Company has become the new battleground among the feuding billionaire Rai brothers after Jaswant Singh Rai, the chairman of Rai Group, joined other bidders to try to wrest a lucrative leasing contract from his younger sibling –Sarbi Singh Rai.

The rift in the Rai family became public last year when a case pitting the siblings against each other was filed in court, lifting the lid on the silent fight to control their late father’s multi-billion shilling estate.

SUMMARY

• Jaswant Singh Rai, the chairman of Rai Group, has joined other bidders to try to wrest a lucrative leasing contract from his younger sibling –Sarbi Singh Rai.
• The rift in the Rai family became public last year when a case pitting the siblings against each other was filed in court, lifting the lid on the silent fight to control their late father’s multi-billion shilling estate.
• Jaswant on Tuesday tabled a new set of figures to back his claims to have been the highest bidder, challenging the 20-year lease handed to Uganda-based haveSaraihave Sarai Group, run by his brother.

Rai billionaire brothers now battle over Mumias

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 26 2022

    

Troubled Mumias Sugar Company has become the new battleground among the feuding billionaire Rai brothers after Jaswant Singh Rai, the chairman of Rai Group, joined other bidders to try to wrest a lucrative leasing contract from his younger sibling –Sarbi Singh Rai.

The rift in the Rai family became public last year when a case pitting the siblings against each other was filed in court, lifting the lid on the silent fight to control their late father’s multi-billion shilling estate.

Jaswant on Tuesday tabled a new set of figures to back his claims to have been the highest bidder, challenging the 20-year lease handed to Uganda-based Saraiargued Group, run by his brother.

He made the application to join the case before Justice Wilfrida Okwany a.that his company, West Kenya, placed the highest bid but receiver-manager Ponangipalli Rao allegedly awarded the deal to the lowest bidder, Sarrai Group.

Jaswant now wants the receiver to explain how he settled on his brother. He says his bid was for Sh36 billion yet Mr. Rao settled on Sarrai with a bid of Sh6 billion.

Through Senior counsel Paul Muite, Jaswant said the receiver does not have the legal mandate or the professional expertise to make any findings on competition issues in Kenya or make any assessments on market share in any sector in Kenya.

“The figures and analysis produced by the 1st defendant in the said replying affidavit are imaginary and based on conjecture and hypothesis,” he said in an affidavit.

Further, Jaswant argues the rival has no track record of sugar production in Kenya whatsoever and that it is a company whose financial viability and technical ability have Sarai no record in Kenya. On the other hand, West Kenya is a well-established Kenyan company with a track record of sugar production in Kenya.

The West Kenya owner says the lease to Sarrai was actuated by other factors other than the best interest of the shareholders and creditors of the company.

He claims that the elimination of West Kenya at technical evaluation was not a matter within the receiver manager’s legal competence and accuses Mr. Rao of usurping the powers of the Competition Authority of Kenya.

Mr. Rao has, however, defended the leasing process, saying it was done per the law.

He said his role in the evaluation was simply to check what figures had been inserted by the bidders as they were and not interrogate them in any way and that the submitted bid price was the sole criteria for evaluation.

The KCB  receiver said the Rai Group lost a bid to lease the ailing miller on account of his dominance in the sugar sector.

M..r Rao said that were M.r Rai to be awarded the lease, he would control 42 percent of the total sugarcane crushed in the country daily.

Mr. Rao said this would have amounted to a dominant position in the sugar industry given give the provisions of the Competition Act 2010.

A total of eight investors submitted bids to lease the troubled sugar factory. The revelation by West Kenya also put to question who the highest bidder was.

Tumaz & Tumaz, owned by Julius Mwale, had argued that it was the highest bidder with an offer of Sh28 billion followed by Kruman Finances, who wanted a 25-year lease with Sh19.7 billion. Other bidders were Pandhal Industries with Sh9.7 billion over 20 years and Kibos Sugar with Sh8.8 billion.

In another intrigue, some lawyers who alleged to be representing West Kenya told a media briefing that they were challenging the lease to Sarrai. and that they want it to be given to Devki Group, associated with steel tycoon Narendra Raval.

The lawyers argued that Sarrai was not suited to run the plant given the bid amount that he placed during the process was lower when compared to other bidders.

Devki Group, which the lawyers claimed placed the highest bid of Sh61 billion as a lease offer, denied that figure arguing that the amount was way beyond what they had bid.

“What we placed as our offer for Mumias was less than Sh5 billion, we were not the highest bidders,” said M.r Raval in an interview with the Business Daily.

“I am no longer in the race for leasing Mumias,” he added.

Mr. Raval withdrew from the tendering process before the exercise was completed, according to the receiver-manager receiver-manage.

The battle for Mumias is hinged on its vast estate and the control that whoever runs the plant will have in the sugar sector in the country.

The ailing firm has one of the largest nucleus estates at 4,000 hectares with the milling plant having a capacity of 8,000 per day, making it the largest sugar processor in Kenya.

The battle for Mumias has given Kenyans a further glimpse of the rivalry among the billionaire Rai’s brother.

Sarbi is one of the five sons of Tarlochan Singh Rai who died in December 2010. He fell out with his brother over the distribution of the wealth left by the patriarch, forcing him to move out of the Rai Group whose chairman is Jaswant.

Their late mother Sarjij Kaur Rai had teamed up with her sons, Jasbir and Iqbal, objecting to the Will, saying the patriarch could have been coerced in crafting the document that distributed his assets among his eight beneficiaries. Jaswant is the executor of the Will.

The family has interests in cement production (Rai Cement), edible oils and soaps (Menengai Oil Refineries), sawmilling (Timsales, RaiPly and Webuye Panpaper), wheat farming, horticulture, sugar industry (West Kenya, which owns Kabras Sugar) and, real estate (Tulip Properties).

The Rai family owns West Kenya, Sukari Industries, and Olepito, which have taken over the market previously occupied by Mumias with their Kabras Sugar brand. At its peak, Mumias had more than 60 percent market share.

In 2020, Sugar Directorate data showed that the three firms owned by M. Rai’s family-controlled 45 percent of the total sales, which was a growth from the 41 percent market share they held in the corresponding period of 2019. to

West Kenya had the lion’s share at 29 percent followed by Sukari Industries at 11 percent, with Olepito coming in at a distant third with two percent of the total 292,040 sales reported between January and June of 2020. Since 2020 the directorate has kept data on market control as a closely guarded secret.

Mumias owes Proparco Sh1.84 billion secured using the electricity generation plant, Ecobank Sh1.77 billion on the ethanol plant, and the Treasury Sh2.83 billion. Banks it owes more than Sh3 billion include KCB, NCBA   and Stanbic Bank

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Mushrooms have long been a part of the human diet– species have been discovered in association with 13, 000- year- old archaeological sites in Chile.

Mushrooms have a high nutritional value due to their high levels of protein, enzymes, B vitamins, and vitamin D2. What s the best part? They are classified as a zero-calorie food that is especially beneficial to diabetics.

More than 98 percent of us eat only one kind of mushroom: the common button mushroom and its relatives, the crimini and portabello mushrooms.

However, other types of mushrooms can help you increase the nutrient content of your diet. Try shiitake, oyster, chanterelle, reishi, Cordyceps, turkey tail, and Himematsutake varieties if you can find them.

Those who prefer red meat can substitute white button mushrooms for it to aid in weight loss. A study found that those who did this lost more weight, had better body composition, had a smaller waist circumference, and were better able to maintain their weight loss.

Vitamin B is required by the body to convert food (carbs) into fuel (glucose), produce energy, and metabolize fats and protein. Mushrooms are high in vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B3 (thiamin) (niacin).

A 100 gm of crimini contains 44% and 30% of your daily recommended amount, respectively, while white button mushrooms contain 36% and 30%, and oyster mushrooms contain 32% and 39%. Including mushrooms in your diet can help to boost your metabolism.

When we think of antioxidants, we usually think of bright and colorful vegetables. Antioxidants are substances that help our bodies fight free radicals caused by oxidation.

According to a Penn State University study, crimini and portobello mushrooms have antioxidant levels comparable to red peppers.

With the majority of us now being advised to take vitamin D supplements, it’s time to consider a natural cure.

Mushrooms are the only fruit or vegetable that contain this essential vitamin. Mushrooms, like humans, produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. To begin eating!

Those who avoid mushrooms because they believe they are harmful should remember that only about 50 to 100 of the over 10, 000 species of mushrooms are toxic. There is no danger unless you pick a species in a forest and decide to cook it.

The current dry season has seen many people in the country face starvation due to the reduced production of food crops and inadequate pasture for livestock.

Rose Owenga, the Kisumu County government Head of Agri-nutrition, says that dry seasons require immediate mitigation measures to overcome food scarcity.

“We are encouraging the production of cassava, potatoes, and other root tubers that are drought tolerant. With the production of our indigenous foods, there is the great hope of bridging the gap of food insecurity experienced in certain homes and counties,” Ms. Owenga says.

According to a report released on December 14, 2021, by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), three consecutive poor rainy seasons in Kenya have exposed at least 2.9 million people to food insecurity.

However, in Kisii County, things are different because farmers have resorted to drought-tolerant food crops such as cassava and millet to overcome hunger.

Irene Omweri, 42, a resident of Getenga village in the outskirts of Kisii town, Kisii County, and a farmer, narrates how growing a three-month finger millet helps her feed her family during January dry spell.

“Instead of planting maize for six months, we grow millet for three months and it is profitable. You can cook porridge, ugali and sell the remainder in the market to pay school fees for our children,” Mrs. Omweri said.

Mrs. Omweri also says that depending on monthly salary alone cannot satisfy one’s needs and advises people to embrace food crop farming, stating that even the three-month yellow maize can offer one with enough food to eat.

“Yellow maize ripens in three months. Instead of growing the hybrid maize that takes six months to ripen, plant the yellow maize. It helps us to fight hunger,” Omweri advised.

Mrs. Grace Ogeto, a 55-year old farmer and a tutor at Kisii National Polytechnic in the same county, also urges more farmers to practice crop rotation, especially rotating maize with finger millets, sweet potatoes, or groundnuts to get a better harvest.

“Arable land in Kisii has reduced in size. We don’t have large tracts of land to grow maize like in Kitale. We have exhausted soil fertility due to overplanting maize without rotation. Maize no longer produces enough for consumption. This is why we have seen it better to practice crop rotation. If you plant maize this season, replace it with finger millet in the next season. The aged have been advised to eat less starchy foods and one of them is finger millet. Many people now consume finger millet especially for supper,” Mrs. Ogeto adds.

Janet Machoka, an arrowroot farmer, also confesses that arrowroots feed her family during dry seasons and they take only three months to mature and call upon residents to plant them in large quantities.

“You can use arrowroots for breakfast instead of bread because the consumption cost has gone high,” Mrs.Machoka said.

Ms.Owenga also notes that producing leafy vegetables can help to improve health among children because they offer crucial nutrients.

“At Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and county governments, we are concerned more with the production of African leafy vegetables because of their nutritional value and you don’t need to apply too many fertilizers and chemicals, meaning you get safe foods,” she says.

The farmers have also called upon the county government to send more extension officers to the field to train them on the proper cultivation of crops that endure dry spells and mature quickly.

Kenya Agriculture Livestock and Research Organisation (KALRO) is introducing improved breeds of dairy cattle and grass that are adapted to harsh climatic conditions as a measure to mitigate the current effects of drought on livestock.

According to KALRO’s Director-General Dr. Eliud Kireger, the improved crossbreed between the indigenous Sahiwal and the exotic Friesian was resistant to most pests and diseases and had the potential of yielding 30 liters of milk per day.

As part of its efforts to increase milk production in the country, Dr. Kireger said KALRO through its Dairy Institute at Naivasha had begun training farmers on breeding, disease control, animal health, feed formulation, value addition, and marketing in the dairy subsector.

He added “One of the biggest challenges the dairy subsector has been grappling with is the high cost of animal feed which makes the venture nonprofitable. We have been equipping farmers with skills to formulate feeds from maize germ, boma Rhodes and brachiaria grass,”

The improved dairy cow breeds, the Director-General pointed out, fit within the nomadic pastoral system of production that is dominant in the regions, adding that KALRO was at the same time encouraging pastoralists to keep fewer animals, but with higher milk or meat production potential.

Speaking when he officially opened a Training of Trainers (ToTs) workshop on Dairy Value Chain at Jumuia Guest House in Nakuru, Dr. Kireger said the changing climate has affected the feed and fodder situation in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions, where during droughts, livestock is lost.

The 9-day workshop organized by the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Project (NARIGP), incorporates livestock extension officers from counties of Kwale, Kilifi, Narok, Samburu, and Nyamira.

“To deal with the perennial feed shortages, KALRO has introduced, through its Arid and Rangelands Research Institute, re-seeding program, where grasses, mainly indigenous and adopted, are re-grown in the rangelands,” he said.

Dr. Kireger who was accompanied by NARIGP National Coordinator Mary Mainge observed that improved cattle breeds were well adapted to the range and grasslands and are being used to improve the small African zebu that is less productive yielding an average of 10 litres per day.

KALRO has also secured registration of four range grass varieties by crops agency, which the Director-General said will facilitate commercialization of the varieties and make the seeds readily available to farmers for the establishment of new pasture fields and restoration of degraded rangelands.

Dr. Kireger said the Dairy Institute was retaining more than 100 ‘elite’ Sahiwal bulls for semen harvesting by Kenya Animal Genetics Resource Centre (KAGRC), adding the organisation was encouraging livestock keepers at the farm level to improve breeds of their dairy cows through the adoption of artificial insemination.

He said KALRO had established a call center manned by 8 experts where farmers can receive expert advice on planting materials, fertilizers, plant and animal diseases, weather reports among other agronomy and livestock-related issues.

“We have also registered 600,000 farmers on a platform where they can send queries and receive feedback via a mobile phone application. We have geo-referenced them to make it easier to locate them whenever the need arises. Our new call center call is reached through Safaricom number – 011010100,” said the Director-General.

The director-general added that KALRO was working with a further 500,000 farmers on different value chains as a way of improving the country’s food security, safety standards, nutrition boosting household incomes, and reducing post-harvest losses.

Ms. Mainge noted that the dairy sub-sector contributed 3.5 percent of the total Gross Domestic Product adding that out of the 5.2 billion litres yielded annually, 84 percent is sold in raw form.

The NARIGP national coordinator stated that the informal milk sector accounted for more than 70 percent of the 40,000 jobs in dairy marketing.

She said farmers in 17 selected Arid-Semi, Arid, and Medium to High Rainfall counties are set to benefit from training on the dairy value chain to improve incomes among women, youth, and vulnerable persons.

The counties are Nakuru, Turkana, Samburu, Makueni, Kitui, Embu, Meru, Kwale, Kilifi, Narok, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Muranga, Bungoma, Vihiga, Nandi, Trans-Nzoia, Kisii, Nyamira, Migori and Homa Bay.

Ms. Mainge said the Training of Trainers will focus on technologies, innovations, and management practices including assisted reproduction in dairy cattle breeding, disease tolerance, forage conservation, feed rations, manure management for bio-energy, and fortification of feeds.

They will also be provided with knowledge and skills on analysis and marketing in the sub-sector, milk handling, and processing.

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