The County Government of Bomet, through its Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperatives, officially launched the Harnessing Pasture Biodiversity and Productivity in the Kenyan Highlands (HABITAT) program today.
The program is a collaborative initiative to enhance livestock productivity and promote sustainable farming practices in the region.
Led by Bangor University (UK), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and the University of Eldoret, and supported by funding from the Global Centre for Biodiversity (GCB) and UK International Development (UKID), HABITAT focuses on improving pasture management and promoting climate-smart dairy farming techniques.
The initiative is designed to help smallholder farmers in the Kenyan Highlands tackle the challenges of pasture degradation, enhance livestock feed quality, and build climate resilience through sustainable farming practices.
Dr. Kibet Sitienei, the Chief Officer of Agriculture for Bomet County, highlighted the critical importance of pasture management in the region, where pasture availability and quality are essential for livestock production.
He highlighted that the HABITAT program would play a pivotal role in boosting pasture biodiversity, improving feed quality, and ultimately enhancing the sustainability of dairy farming.
“This program represents a significant step forward in our efforts to not only improve productivity but also address climate change impacts. Through collaboration with our partners, we are equipping our farmers with the tools they need to adopt climate-smart practices that will help secure their livelihoods while also contributing to environmental conservation,” said Dr. Sitienei during the launch event.
The program, which also aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aligns with Bomet County’s broader agricultural development goals, particularly in strengthening food security, improving farmers’ incomes, and building resilience against climate-related challenges.
Philip Cheruiyot, the Director of Cooperatives in Bomet, emphasized the role of local cooperatives in supporting farmers to adopt the program’s practices.
He noted that by improving pasture quality and making dairy farming more sustainable, HABITAT will provide long-term benefits to the community, including better market access and increased cooperative engagement.
During the event, the participants also included Director of Livestock Evans Rono representatives from ILRI, CGIAR, the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), and other key stakeholders.
Through this partnership, the HABITAT program seeks to deliver tangible, lasting improvements to dairy farming in the region and contribute to broader goals of environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation.
By Lamech Willy.A
