Kenyan poultry farmers rally against US efforts to access the local market

KENYA- Kenyan poultry farmers are currently rallying against efforts by the United States to gain access to the local market, sparking a crisis within the country’s poultry sector. 

The dispute arises from the US’s alleged push for Kenya to open up its market to finished agricultural products during ongoing negotiations for new trade and investment deals between the two nations.

The Kenyan producers became aware of the US’s intentions to export finished poultry products to Kenya under the proposed US-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) during a stakeholders forum convened by the State Department of Trade.

If finalized, this agreement would permit the importation of finished poultry products from the US, posing a significant threat to the domestic industry.

In a memorandum addressed to Alfred Ombudo K’Ombudo, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industries, the Poultry Breeders Association of Kenya asserts that the Kenyan poultry sector teeters on the brink of collapse if imports of finished poultry from the US flood the market, as local producers cannot compete with a developed market.

The memorandum describes the challenges faced by local poultry producers, highlighting significant differences in production costs, standards, and regulations between Kenya and the US.

Unlike their American counterparts, who benefit from economies of scale and advanced technology, Kenyan poultry farmers face more constraints – the cost of production in Kenya far exceeds that in the US, making it impossible for local producers to compete on an equal basis. 

Furthermore, the advocacy group claims that allowing imports would weaken local producers, resulting in job losses, stifle growth and economic activity in rural areas, and jeopardize food security, particularly in vulnerable communities.

Given these compelling arguments, stakeholders in the Kenyan poultry sector urge the government to reconsider its stance on the pending agreement with the US. 

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