Africa Sustainable Livestock 2050: Biosecurity and public health practices along the poultry value chain in Kenya

Abstract

In Kenya, to satisfy the rapidly increasing demand for animal source food (ASFs) of growing urbann populations, livestock holdings and value chains in and around peri-urban and urban areas are transforming more rapidly than elsewhere in the country, risking to exacerbate the negative impacts of livestock keeping on the environment and public health. The extent to which livestock-associated pathogens pose risks to public health is determined by the broader context in which livestock stakeholders operate and behave, both collectively and individually. Understanding stakeholders' behaviour as they perform various functions along the various livestock value chains is therefore crucial to inform, revise, and update policies. In order to identify major public health hazards associated with the particularly rapidly expanding poultry value chain(s), FAO, in collaboration with the veterinary service directorates of urban and peri-urban counties of Kiambu and Nairobi, surveyed the poultry value chain actors to assess their business practices and extent to which they comply with recommended biosecurity and public health practices.