Kenya, Farmer’s Choice sign pact to expand pig value chain and market access
Deal also aligns with the National Pig Value Chain Development Strategy (2025–2029).
KENYA – Kenya’s Farmer’s Choice Limited and the State Department for Livestock Development have entered into a framework agreement aimed at restructuring the pig value chain through coordinated efforts between public and private sector players.
The agreement was formalised during a multi-stakeholder forum focused on pork nutrition and sustainable value chains, which also set the stage for implementing the National Pig Value Chain Development Strategy covering 2025 to 2029.
The arrangement is designed to streamline collaboration across production, processing, and marketing systems while improving overall sector efficiency.
Principal Secretary for Livestock Development Jonathan Mueke said challenges such as African swine fever outbreaks, high feed costs, and limited cold-chain and processing infrastructure continue to slow the industry’s expansion.
Under the plan, Farmer’s Choice Limited will train and register 40,000 youth and women within 12 months as part of efforts to widen participation in pig farming and related activities.
The company, which controls an estimated 85% to 90% of Kenya’s processed pork market, works with more than 5,000 farmers and sources about 80% of pigs from independent suppliers.
Market structure and pricing
Farmer’s Choice processes an average of 500 pigs per day, with projections indicating demand could rise to about 1,000 pigs daily as consumption and production capacity expand.
The firm’s product range includes sausages, bacon, ham, pork cuts, and smokies, with about 20% of output exported across East and West Africa, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.
Production systems target piglets reaching 90 kg within 210 to 230 days, supported by expected daily weight gains of between 600 g and 800 g, with breeds such as Large White, Landrace, Duroc, and Camborough being promoted.
Pricing in the sector shows best-grade carcasses of 60 to 75 kg trading at about KES 253 per kg (US$ 1.58/kg), while second-grade carcasses of a similar weight range are priced at around KES 247 per kg (US$ 1.54/kg).
Kenya’s pig industry produced 40,055 tonnes of pork in 2023 from 840,160 pigs, generating about KES 19.5 billion (US$ 121.9 million), with growth driven by increasing sow productivity that can yield around 160 piglets annually per 10 sows.
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