Livestock Development in Africa and Kenya: Sectoral Dynamics, Dryland Production Systems, Market Performance, and Evidence on Business Model Development

Abstract

Livestock production is central to Africa’s food security, livelihoods, employment, trade, and resilience, but its development particularly in eastern Africa and Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) is constrained by low productivity, disease, feed and water shortages, climate variability, weak infrastructure and finance, fragmented markets, and limited value-chain coordination. This review examines livestock development across Africa, with emphasis on Kenya’s ASALs, focusing on production systems, climate resilience, markets and value chains, and livestock business-model innovation. It synthesizes evidence from pastoral, agro-pastoral, mixed, ranching, and commercial systems and assesses the roles of production technologies, animal health, natural-resource management, pastoral mobility, finance, infrastructure, digital technologies, and institutions in improving productivity and resilience. Particular attention is given to pastoral mobility as an important adaptation strategy, while recognizing the growing threats posed by drought, rangeland degradation, disease, conflict, and market disruptions. The review also highlights the importance of livestock corridors, aggregation, market information, quality-based marketing, processing, value addition, regional trade, and digital connectivity, alongside inclusive models such as producer organizations, public–private partnerships, insurance, digital platforms, and local service enterprises. Overall, sustainable livestock development requires an integrated approach that combines productivity, profitability, climate resilience, resource efficiency, competitive markets, finance, technology, strong institutions, and social inclusion. Strengthening context-specific pastoral and agro-pastoral systems and connecting producers to reliable services and higher-value markets offers a promising pathway for transforming livestock into a more resilient, competitive, and sustainable driver of economic development in Africa and Kenya.