The government is pushing for a law that will regulate training, registration and licensing of animal production professionals and technicians in the country.
The proposed Animal Production Professionals and Technicians Bill 2023 is set to offer an enabling environment for the development and regulation of the livestock industry, and to effectively address the modern challenges bedevilling the sector and harmonize its operations.
Principal Secretary (PS) Harry Kimtai noted that it will also regulate standards and practice of the animal production profession.
Drafted and developed by the State Department for Livestock in collaboration with Agriculture stakeholders, Kimtai noted that it is aimed at bringing sanity into the animal production sub-sector.
The forum brought together professionals and stakeholders in the livestock industry to share views, ideas and experiences on the proposed document.
According to Kimtai, the sector is a key pillar in the country’s economy and a crucial driver in realizing food security. He described the new Bill as a game-changer as it will be instrumental in establishing and strengthening linkages between relevant institutions towards actualizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The sub-sector supplies meat, milk, dairy, and other livestock products to the domestic market and accounts for about 12 per cent of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” said Kimtai.
The PS noted that animal production has in the recent past registered a surge in demand compared to supply, urging the public to support the draft bill ahead of its transmission to Parliament for validation.
The proposed bill will establish Animal Production Professionals and Technicians Board, which will exercise general supervision and control over the training, licensing and registration of animal production professionals and entities, and also register, license and regulate them.
It has also outlined the qualifications for an animal production professional, technician or specialist to be registered.
In this case, professionals should be holders of a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree from a recognized university approved by the board in either animal production, science, and animal production and health, range management, dairy science technology, or any other qualification that the board deems fit from time to time.
Animal production technicians will be required to be holders of a certificate or diploma in animal production or related sciences in the same areas of specialization.
For animal production specialists, they will be required to be holders of a Master’s degree in either animal breeding and genetics, animal genomics, animal nutrition, livestock production systems, range ecology, ranch management, dairy technology, meat science, apiculture, leather technology, or any other qualification that the board deems fit.
They will also have an experience of not less than 3 years, or a Doctorate (PhD) degree in the stated areas of specialization.
Besides the academic qualifications, they will further be required to undertake such examinations as may be prescribed to ascertain applicant’s knowledge and skills before registration.
The examination may be conducted by the board or any other authority or institution appointed by the board to meet the terms and conditions as the board may determine.
A person seeking registration has to apply within a period of three years after qualification, and any person applying beyond that period will be required to undertake an examination set by the board.
The registrar of the board is required to gazette the name and address of every person registered within thirty days of registration.
On the other hand, a firm shall be qualified to be registered as an animal production service provider if it submits the prescribed form together with a prescribed fee.
Part of the requirement is that it must be legally registered in Kenya, has a registered and retained animal production professional or technician, and satisfies the board by an affidavit lodged with the registrar that no criminal proceedings under this Act have been instituted against the firm.
The registrar will process the gazettement of all firms registered under this section every year.
By Roy Hezron
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