I am very pleased to join all of you today in celebrating the opening of the Lodwar Livestock Market.  I congratulate everyone who has worked so hard to bring this project to completion. A vibrant market system in northern Kenya helps the region in many ways: it spurs private sector investment, strengthens the resilience of pastoralists, and reduces the impact of climate-induced disasters such as drought and floods.  In recognition of its importance, the United States invested 38 million Kenyan shillings in the Lodwar Livestock Market to help upgrade its infrastructure and improve water access within the market so that buyers and sellers can focus on business.

Kenya is one of the fastest-growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Rising incomes and increased investment in agriculture bode well for continued growth. However, ninety percent of smallholder farmers still grow maize or other low-income generating crops. Opportunities to add value to crops and access export markets only reach a fraction of the country’s smallholder farmers. Smallholder dairy producers supply 70 percent of Kenya’s domestic milk production, but lack productive dairy cows, nutritious animal feed and sufficient knowledge and skills to ensure quality control and food safety.