Strategic Plan 2018 - 2022 for the State Department of Livestock (SDL).

This Strategic Plan for the State Department of Livestock is a 5-year nationwide sectoral document aiming at developing the animal sector recognised as one of the drivers of the Big 4 Agenda focusing on actualising the priority area on food and nutritional security and has a key role to play in manufacturing and agro-processing and attainment of universal health care through public health. The Vision of SDL in this Strategic Plan is to be a leading agency in creating a sustainable and globally competitive livestock industry. The Mission of the SDL in the Strategic Plan is to promote sustainable development of the livestock sector by creating an enabling environment through policy and legislative interventions while providing services that increase productivity, value addition, market access, and income in the livestock sector. The strategic objectives for the SDL - arising from its mandate (and that is to promote, regulate and facilitate the Livestock Sector for socio-economic development and industrialisation), situational analysis, and the lessons learned from the implementation of the previous Strategic Plans - are to (i) strengthening policy, legal and institutional capacity; (ii) increasing production and productivity; (iii) improving market access and trade; (iv) improving resilience for ASAL communities; (v) Strengthening monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and information management.
To help eliminate hunger and malnutrition, the Plan focuses on increasing the quality of production in the sector, in particular on the enhancement of safety of food of animal origin by developing and promoting AMR mitigation policy, strengthening inspection and certification of food of animal origin, promoting the establishment of food and feeds quality assurance laboratories, supporting national residue monitoring in animal products, and developing the standards for slaughterhouses.
In order to make the livestock sector more productive and sustainable, the interventions will be directed to (i) modernise livestock facilities and services and develop the utilisation of appropriate breed improvement technologies; (ii) promote investment in water infrastructure for livestock; (iii) enhance availability of fodder and pasture; (iv) promote rangeland management and conservation;(v) improve animal health through surveillance and mapping of diseases, disease risk management and disaster preparedness, a database for management of animal health and production information, vector control, use of veterinary medicines and biological, and development and production of safe, effective and affordable veterinary vaccines; (vi) enhance availability of quality feeds and supplements; (vii) develop national livestock breeding programs for specific locally adapted and indigenous breeds; (viii) establish a national animal identification system and strengthen infrastructure for performance recording and genetic evaluation; (ix) develop a gene bank and build capacity for multiplication and conservation of livestock.
More inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems can be enhanced mainly through (i) digitization of farmer registration, creation of livestock market information system, certification and livestock identification and traceability; (ii) building capacity in production, processing, storage, and marketing infrastructures; (iii) tax exemptions for feed ingredients; (iv) support to livestock farmers with subsidies, such as use of e-vouchers system; (iv) adoption of international food safety standards set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to ensure food safety for local consumption and international trade; (v) promotion of feedlots and other high value livestock finishing establishments in strategic sites; (vi) development of standards for livestock products and by-products; (vii) establishment of linkages between livestock agro-industries and potential manufacturers to business development services, financial and insurance and market service providers; (viii) promotion of regional and international livestock trade; (ix) development of safety and quality assurance standards for animals, animal products; (x) strengthening of livestock Market Information Systems.
To increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters the document envisages to (i) promote climate change adaptation technologies and practices such as keeping of locally adapted livestock breeds, commercial and emergency livestock off-take programs, alternative livestock derived livelihoods early warning information systems, livestock insurance; (ii) sensitise staff on safe use and disposal of chemicals, waste and other materials; (iii) promote tree planting on institutional land; (iv) promote One Health initiative with other collaborating partner.
As for Governance, the Plan implementation requires a department (or unit) responsible for each activity. Heads of the department is solely responsible for results in each activity under their respective department. The accountability framework will be cascaded further through departmental Strategic Plans, Annual Work Plans, Individual Work Plans and Performance Appraisal System (PAS), all of which will be aligned to this Strategic Plan. The Heads of Department will be accountable to the Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary for their performance, while individual members of staff will be accountable to their Division heads.