{
  "id": 12317913,
  "title": "Government targets costly animal feeds with yellow maize plan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/government-targets-costly-animal-feeds-with-yellow-maize-plan",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-06T06:07:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "People Daily Kenya",
    "slug": "people-daily-kenya",
    "url": "https://peopledaily.digital/news/government-targets-costly-animal-feeds-with-yellow-maize-plan"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has unveiled government strategies to reduce the expense of feeding livestock, focusing on promoting the cultivation of yellow maize for this purpose. During a recent interview, Kagwe highlighted the high expense of animal feeds, largely due to the use of imported ingredients like soy, a key protein source. He explained that the government aims to lower feed production costs by backing maize cultivation, urging farmers to differentiate between maize for human use and that intended for animal consumption. Large-scale farmers are being encouraged to grow yellow maize specifically for livestock, while steps are being taken to eliminate the financial strain of importing the crop. Kagwe noted that yellow maize previously faced import duties, but the government is transitioning to a zero-rating system to alleviate costs. He emphasized the long-term goal of minimizing reliance on imported feed materials by boosting local production of soy and yellow maize, ultimately aiming to replace a significant portion of imported ingredients. Kagwe also mentioned that some farmers are now contracting growers to produce soy and yellow maize and then integrating these into their feed blends instead of buying expensive commercial feeds. Additionally, the CS pointed to the use of fodder varieties with higher protein content, such as GuangCao and enhanced Napier grasses, as a means to increase protein levels with less feed. The government is also subsidizing semen to enhance livestock breeds and has made vaccinations more affordable to support farmers in safeguarding their animals. Kagwe's proposals stem from growing concerns about the high cost of animal feeds, which has contributed to a decline in milk production, as reported by Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba. Wamuchomba pointed out a decrease in milk collection from 175,000 liters to 140,000 liters daily, attributing this decline to escalating production costs and dismissing fodder scarcity as the primary issue.",
  "summary": "Agriculture Cabinet Secretary ( CS) Mutahi Kagwe has outlined government measures aimed at lowering the cost of animal feeds, including encouraging farmers to grow yellow maize specifically for livestock. Speaking during an interview with a local station on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, Kagwe said the high cost of feeds was partly caused by the reliance […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}