IFAD in collaboration with PROCASUR sends a diverse group of representatives from IFAD-supported projects, implementing partners and beneficiaries from Sudan on a Learning Route on innovative livestock marketing through various districts and communities in Kenya. Between 27 February and 9 March 2012, the participants submerge into an intensive and exciting learning process around five successful and innovative cases including a Maasai women grassroots organization, a mobile phone-based banking system, a camel milk marketing cooperative, a slaughterhouse with linkages to urban supermarkets, and a goat breeders associations.

1. IFAD/PROCASUR
Learning Route on Innovative Livestock
Marketing to Kenya
27 February to 9 March 2012
A Photo Story
Elaine Reinke, IFAD/NEN

2. Here were are – 22 “ruteros” from Sudan, Somaliland, Ethiopia,
Madagascar, USA, Italy and Germany, supported by a wonderful
team of PROCASUR staff and livestock experts. We barely
landed in Nairobi and were already on the road…

3. Getting ready for our first
encounter with the real experts…
…but it didn’t take us long to
escape from the classroom and
get into the field.

4. After a warm
welcome by the
Maasai Market
Access Committees
Siana and Kilitome
in Amboseli…

5. …these livestock trading
community groups
living in preserved
wildlife areas told us
about their efficient
partnership with the
African Wildlife
Foundation and the
private sector company
Agritrade. The Siana
women group
successfully ventured
into a commercial
sector traditionally
dominated by men.

6. In the Kimana livestock
market the group simulated
the trade of a bull … and also
shared some knowledge with
Kenyan youth.

7. Over a good cup of Kenyan
tea, we learned more about
the challenges these two
groups faced and
overcame…

8. After we saw a role play of a typical committee meeting
prepared by the Maasai groups, we handed over certificates
to the local champions … and had to say goodbye to the
wonderful hosts of our first learning case.

9. Generating knowledge, ideas,
experiences … last but not
least, connecting people.

10. As one can see, the Maasai
didn’t release us yet. Our
next case brought us to the
Kiserian terminal market …
…where we experienced a
well-integrated value chain of
Maasai pastoralists and
livestock traders over the
Keekonyokie slaughterhouse to
meat processors and traders.

11. The biogas plant of
the Keekonyokie
slaughterhouse
turned out the most
captivating innovation
for the “ruteros”.

12. All actors in the Kiserian
market have one thing
in common:
They use the
mobile phone
based money
transfer system
M-PESA… (and
now our route
coordinator is
one of them!)

13. Halftime (not half of the time) –
some relaxation and fun…
….while
preparing
for…

14. …the long awaited camel case.
Our hosts, the women of the
Anolei Camel Milk Cooperative in
Isiolo, welcomed us with a full
meal of camel delights (tea and
meat) at their local milk bar.

15. Some of us must have felt like a
duck in the water when we visited
Anolei camel producers…
…and some 400 surprisingly
friendly camels.

16. Supplementary feeding
of “ruteros”…
… when we witnessed
the milking process and
learned the tips and
tricks of camel
husbandry.

17. The case revealed a captivating
symbiosis of humans and animals…
…and some true love stories.

18. From camels to goats – our
last learning case brought
us to the Meru Goat
Breeders Association…
…facilitating the production
of high quality dairy goats
for the benefit of its more
than 4,200 farmer members.

19. Visiting producers, we learned
a lot about goat feeding and
milking, zero grazing, health
care, breeding schemes…

20. …and how the cooperative is
successfully processing and
marketing goat milk and
yoghurt.

21. After having travelled Amboseli, Kiserian, Isiolo and Meru, and
visited five successful initiatives of innovative livestock
marketing presented by local champions…

22. …we returned to Nairobi and on to Sudan, Somaliland,
Ethiopia, Madagascar, USA, Italy and Germany…

23. …with a good number of elaborate innovation plans and a
wealth of new ideas, knowledge and experiences. That’s how
innovations travel.