The East African Community Livestock Policy is a regional policy with a cross-sectoral approach, addressing Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. The goals of EAC livestock policy are to: (I) achieve economic growth in the livestock sector, (II) increase the contribution of livestock sector to the agricultural GDP, (III) reduce poverty, hunger, unemployment and protect natural resources. Livestock production will be increased by enhancing secure access to land resources, water resources, and feed, by promoting productive and effective utilization of pastoral livestock assets, and by protecting livestock assets. To this end, land use planning services will be strengthened to enhance optimum land use. Public awareness will be raised on water conservation and efficient use in livestock production, processing and feed production. Rainwater, surface run-off harvesting and borehole sinking will be promoted to ensure availability of water for irrigation and livestock use. Furthermore, innovation frameworks will be developed to overcome feed and fodder scarcity in livestock production systems and research studies will be conducted in the fields of animal nutrition, feed processing and quality improvement of crop residues. The access and use of grazing areas, common pastures, wetlands and wildlife habitats by farmers will be controlled and environmentally sustainable production practices will be promoted. Livestock zoning and discharge quota system will be implemented to prevent the negative environmental impacts of livestock production systems. Moreover, sustainable management of ecosystems and restoration of the degraded grazing range lands will be ensured. The implementation of payment for environmental services schemes will be promoted in livestock systems. Livestock productivity and competitiveness will be increased to secure livelihoods. Therefore, veterinary health services will be improved and access to quality extension services will be enhanced, especially for poor livestock producers and traders. The involvement of farmers’ groups and other users will be promoted to improve water governance. The establishment of farmers and manufacturers associations will be supported to facilitate extension and service delivery for smallholders in the feed market. Gender equity will be integrated into livestock projects and programmes to secure the access of women to livestock assets and natural resources. Income generation opportunities will be provided to women and youth. One health approach will be applied in control and prevention of transboundary animal diseases, zoonoses and emerging infectious diseases. Thereby, animal health will be protected through improved research and extension services focusing on prevention of animal diseases and food safety. Transboundary animal diseases control will be integrated into national and regional preparedness strategies. Animal welfare will be strengthened through increased investments in improved infrastructure development and markets, and implementation of animal identification and traceability systems in all Partner States. Regional trade and investment in animal semen, embryos and biotechnology research will be facilitated for production of quality breeding stock and animal conservation and breeding centres will be established. Livestock market functioning and trade will be promoted to expand local production and processing of livestock commodities. The development of market and trade information databases on domestic, regional and international livestock products will be promoted. Consumer protection will be strengthened by developing effective information systems on local food production and markets. The resilience of livestock assets to risks and shocks, including drought, flood and disease outbreaks, will be increased through effective climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. Moreover, mechanisms will be developed to cope with food price volatility, especially in times of crisis. Adaptive capacity to climate change related risks of drought and food price volatility will be enhanced to foster efficient and equitable growth in the subsector with a special emphasis on the livestock-dependent poor. In addition, livestock-based emergency plans will be developed and early warning systems, disaster and risk management and responses will be strengthened. Institutional capacity building will be enhanced for rapid response to climate change related risks and shocks
2016-09-05