Kenya secures US$42M grant to cut livestock methane emissions

KENYA – Kenya has secured a Sh5.4 billion (US$42 million) grant from the Green Climate Fund to support efforts to reduce methane emissions from livestock while improving productivity and climate resilience in the country’s livestock sector.

The funding will support the Dairy Interventions for Mitigation and Adaptation (DaIMA) project, which aims to reduce national livestock emissions by 20% by 2032 through improved breeding, feeding, animal health and manure management practices.

The announcement was made during a parliamentary breakfast dialogue on methane emissions held in Nairobi on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, Jonathan Mueke, the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Livestock Development, said the livestock sector remains the country’s largest methane emitter.

“The livestock sector contributes 28% of the total national emissions, which is over 90% of total agricultural emissions,” Mueke said.

He added that enteric fermentation from cattle digestion remains the dominant source of emissions.

“The main source of these methane emissions is through enteric fermentation, which is 96% of livestock emissions,” he said.

Mueke warned that emissions from the livestock sector could rise significantly without intervention.

“Without intervention, total emissions from the livestock sector will increase by 49% from the current level of 31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030,” he said.

The DaIMA project will focus on livestock genetics and breeding management, feed and feeding systems, animal health, milk loss reduction and manure management.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the programme is designed to improve livestock productivity rather than reduce herd sizes.

“We have identified the most practical pathway to reducing methane emissions intensity by lowering the emissions associated with producing one unit of milk, meat or eggs,” the ministry said.

“This approach focuses on improving productivity, efficiency, and animal health so that each animal produces more output per unit of emissions, thereby delivering climate and economic gains.”

Kenya scales up climate-smart livestock programmes

The new grant adds to several methane reduction and climate-smart livestock initiatives already underway in Kenya.

Last year, scientists from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) joined a US$27.4 million global research programme to breed lower-emitting cattle. Researchers said some animals naturally emit up to 30% less methane while maintaining productivity levels.

Kenya has also expanded investments in improved feeding systems, pasture development, livestock insurance and vaccination programmes to improve resilience against drought and disease outbreaks.

According to Mueke, Kenya lost more than 2.5 million livestock during recent droughts, with economic losses estimated at over Sh50 billion (US$387 million).

Experts at the dialogue said improving feed quality remains one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to lower methane intensity in African livestock systems.

“It is important for farmers to see that possible reduction of methane can actually be an economic potential, a place for investments,” said Claudia Arndt.

Arndt noted that methane remains a major but often overlooked contributor to climate change.

“Methane is a short-lived climate pollutant, yet it is 68 times worse than carbon dioxide. It doesn’t receive much attention as carbon dioxide. How we handle organic waste also contributes to methane emissions,” she said.

Meanwhile, John Mutunga said global pressure to reduce methane emissions is intensifying.

“About 150 countries have signed on to the 30% methane reduction by 2030. That’s just four years away,” Mutunga said.

Industry stakeholders at the meeting stressed that farmer education and practical financial benefits will be critical to ensuring adoption of climate-smart livestock technologies across Kenya’s dairy and beef sectors.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.