Sheep, Goat and Camel Research Institute

The Institute generates and promotes technologies and innovations for demand-driven sheep, goat and camel value chains nationally

Sheep flock in KALRO Marsabit (photo credit -Sagala Josphat)

Experimental Blackhead Persian Sheep

Experimental Blackhead Persian Sheep

The KALRO, Sheep, Goat and Camel Research Institute is one the research institutes created under the KALR Act of 2013. It has two Research Centres namely Marsabit in Marsabit County and Buchuma in Taita Taveta County. Its headquarters is in Marsabit Research Centre. The Marsabit research Centre was established in 1987 and took over facilities and staff from the UNESCO funded Integrated Project for Arid Lands (IPAL) implemented in mid 1970s and mid-1980s. It operates four sub-centres namely: Kargi, Ngurunit, Gudas and Gatab/Mt. Kulal, whose distances from the Institute headquarters are 70, 150, 67 and 200km, respectively. Buchuma centre is located in Taita-Taveta county, Voi sub-county. The centre’s location lies at Buchuma near Mackinnon Road, 68.3 Km from Voi along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway. The Buchuma Centre was part of the old Ministry of Agriculture’s scientific research division and sheep and goat farm at Buchuma

Vision

Excellence in Sheep, Goat and Camel research towards transformed Livelihood.

Mission Statement

To conduct Sheep, Goats and Camel research through application of science, technology and innovation to catalyse sustainable growth and development in Livestock product Value Chain.

   
                     Galla goat bucks                                                                     Dorper ram                                               Female Somali camel

 

Galla goats

The Institute’s main focus is sheep, goat and Camel production, marketing and utilisation. The Institute headquarter is located in Marsabit County, 550 km from Nairobi along the Nairobi- Marsabit Highway (2.5 Kms from Marsabit town). It has centres in Marsabit, Marimanti, Buchuma and Macalder.

The Institute’s mandate is to promote demand-driven sheep, goat and camel research aimed at improving productivity. The Institute has the following strategic objectives:

a) To generate and promote technologies and innovations for demand-driven sheep, goat and camel product value chains.

b) To develop and promote markets and marketing strategies sheep, goat and camel product value chains.

c) To facilitate and advocate policy option for enhancing demand-driven sheep, goat and camel product value chains

d) To strengthen the capacity for implementing crops, livestock and natural resources product value chains research in the Institute’s mandate counties
e) To enhance availability of knowledge, information, and technologies on crops, livestock and natural resources product value chain research in the Institute’s mandate counties.

Taveta sub-county livestock Extension officers being trained on fodder establishment at KALRO Buchuma, Photo by Priscilla Muthoni Extension officers training on black soldier fly production at Taita-taveta county, photo by Priscilla Muthoni Student training on the use and preparation of the urea-molasses mineral blocks during the ASK Mombasa show, photo by Ms.Triza Practical demonstration of hay bailing machine to farmers during the KALRO Mkulima Expo in Marsabit County, held at the KALRO Sheep, Goat and Camel Research Institute.
(photo credits:C.Shambi)
Research mandate

The Sheep, Goat and Camel Research Institute aims at enhancing the growth and production of the small ruminant and camel industry. The industry previously received relatively little attention compared to other livestock sub-sectors, resulting in the under performance of the industry. The Institute will conduct research that contributes to the overall growth of the small ruminant and camel industry. 

Institute Objectives
1. Generate technologies, innovations and management practices for sheep, goats and camel products value chains.
2. Generate and advocate use of socio-economics information, market and policy options supporting sheep, goats and camel products value chains;
3. Strengthen the institute’s capacities and resource management;
4. Develop and operationalize systems for prioritization, coordination, and regulation of sheep, goats and camel research.
5. Collate, store and share knowledge, information and technologies on sheep, goats and camel products value chains
Institutes Key Results Areas

The following five Key Result Areas will ensure that the Institute delivers on its mandate and catalyze agricultural sector growth:

  • Technologies and innovations for demand-driven sheep, goat and camel value chains nationally generated and promoted.
  • Markets and marketing strategies for sheep, goat and camel value chains nationally developed and promoted
  • Policy option for enhancing demand-driven sheep, goat and camel value chains nationally facilitated and advocated
  • Capacity for implementing sheep, goat and camel value chains nationally strengthened
  • Knowledge, information, and technologies on sheep, goat and camel value chains availability enhanced nationally.
Strategic approach

The SGCRI strategy framework is to focus on the following broad areas:

  1. Food and nutrition security;
  2. Agribusiness and wealth creation;
  3. Sustainable healthy environment and ecosystems;
  4. Climate change;
  5. Gender equity and youth involvement;
  6. Knowledge sharing and technology transfer;
  7. Organization capacity strengthening and;
  8. Socio-economics, marketing and policy.
  9. Strategic partnership, outreach and collaboration
Research Areas
  1. Feeds and Nutrition
  2. Genetic improvement
  3. Small ruminant and camel health management
  4. Value addition
  5. Data analysis and visualization
  6. Natural Resource Management
  7. Dry land agriculture
Core Functions
  1. Research and Development: The Institutes function is to optimize agricultural production through adaptive and investigative research, and provide guidance on the utilization of innovative technologies to promote sustainable agricultural development in the sheep, goat and camel value chains.
  2. Capacity Building: The Institutes ensures the dissemination of research technologies to key stakeholders through training sessions that equip individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to improve sheep, goat and camel production.
  3. Policy Support: The Institutes is involved in generating and sharing reliable knowledge on sheep, goat and camel value chains that offers invaluable insight to policy makers to help them make informed policy decisions.
  4. Technology Transfer: The institute is involved in development, validation and dissemination of technologies, innovations and management practices (TIMPS) on sheep, goat and camel to farmers in Kenya.

Marsabit Research Centre

The Marsabit research Centre was established in 1987 and took over facilities and staff from the UNESCO funded Integrated Project for Arid Lands (IPAL) implemented in mid 1970s and mid-1980s. It operates four sub-centres namely: Kargi, Ngurunit, Gudas and Gatab/Mt. Kulal, whose distances from the Institute headquarters are 70, 150, 67 and 200km, respectively.

Buchuma centre

Buchuma centre is located in Taita-Taveta county, Voi sub-county. The centre’s location lies at Buchuma near Mackinnon Road, 68.3 Km from Voi along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway. The Buchuma Centre was part of the old Ministry of Agriculture’s scientific research division and sheep and goat farm at Buchuma near Mackinnon Road along Nairobi Mombasa Road.

The Institute collaborates with various national and international organizations, including:

  1. County Government of Marsabit – (State Department for livestock and Crops, Ministry of public works)
  2. County Government of Taita Taveta (State Department for livestock and Crops)
  3. National Government – (Office of the county Commissioner, Kenya Prisons Marsabit, Kenya Water Towers Agency, Kenya Wildlife Services, Kenya Forest Services, Government Chemist)
  4. Pastoralists and Agro-pastoralist Groups.
  5. Private and public ranches in Taita-taveta and Kwale counties such as Taita ranch, Lualenyi ranch, Lokhata ranch, Kasigau and Taru ranch
  6. Livestock Exporting Zone
  7. University (UON, Egerton, MKU, KU, JKUAT, KEMU, MERU , Borana University-Ethiopia)
  8. Technical Institutions – Wajir TI, Laisamis TI, North Horr, Meru Polytechnic, Baraka Agricultural College, Don Bosco.
  9. Kenya Red cross
  10. Local and International NGO’s (PACIDA, Carritas, CIFA, Welt Hunger, CRDD, Food for the Hungry-Kenya, Kenya Dairy Board, world Vision, Wildlife works
  11. Faith Based organization – (Catholic Pastoral Centre)
Services Offered
  • Consultancy and training services on sheep, goat and camel management and husbandry
  • Consultancy and training services on drought tolerant grass species and feed conservation methods (hay and silage making)
  • Consultancy and training services on Urea-molasses mineral blocks preparation and use
  • Internships and Industrial Attachment to Students
  • Supply of range grass seeds
  • Library services
  • Hospitality services i.e., accommodation and conference facilities
  • Laboratory services (Quality test for grass seeds, milk, feeds, soil, water among others).
  • Advisory services and enquiries on Livestock, crop and Natural resource and climate related Research in Kenya.
  • Artificial Insemination

The Research Institute has made significant contributions to Kenya’s agricultural sector, including:

  1. Formulation and testing of a Dorper sheep finisher ration using locally available feed resources.
  2. Dissemination of information to farmers on the use of Urea-Molasses Mineral blocks to improve the weight gain of sheep and goats.
  3. Technology transfer through the sale of Urea-Molasses Mineral Blocks to farmers.
  4. The development of an on-station demonstration plots used to train farmers on types of drought-tolerant grass species and forage legumes suitable for Arid and semi-arid regions.
  5. Breeding technology transfer of Galla goats, Black head Persian sheep, Dorper sheep, Somali Camel and Boran cattle through the sale of animals to farmers at subsidized prices.
  6. Supplementing camels with milled Acacia tortilis pods and Chalbi salt for more milk and healthy calves (by Sagala et al., 2021)
  7. Partial finishing of sheep with molasses, mixed grass hay and Chalbi salt for faster weight gain (by Golicha et al.,2023)
  8. Multiplication and distribution of climate smart camel breed in Northern Kenya (by Changwony et al.,2023)
  9. Promoting keeping of Somali Camel breed because of its high milk production and adaptability

Physical Address: Marsabit Centre
Marsabit County,
Saku Constituency, Caritas Road (2.5Kms from Marsabit Town)
Postal Address: 147 – 60500          
Website: http://www.kalro.org/
Email:  director.sgri@kalro.org

Physical Address: Buchuma Centre
Bachuma near Mackinon road, 68.3 Km from Voi along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway
Postal Address:
P.O BOX 389-80300, VOI       
Website: http://www.kalro.org/
Email: kalro.buchuma@kalro.org
Official Phone: 0739594177