President William Ruto has announced that the government is set to reduce the price of sexed semen—processed semen that allows farmers to get offspring of the desired sex—beginning next month.
Speaking in Meru on Saturday, June 22, the head of state said that the Ministry of Agriculture will reduce the price of this commodity from Ksh2,900 to Ksh1,000.
Sexed semen, also known as gender-sorted semen, is a specialised type of artificial insemination that contains a higher proportion of either X-chromosome-bearing sperm (female) or Y-chromosome-bearing sperm (male) and allows farmers to select the gender of the calf.
In Kenya, a farmer can access sexed semen from distributors such as the Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre (KAGRC).
According to the National Library of Medicine, farmers who leverage sexed semen can expect enhanced farm yields and profitability.
Ruto, who stressed the need for farmers to embrace the sexed semen technologies, said that the move will play a pivotal role in boosting the agricultural sector.
"Starting in July next Month, we are reducing the price of sexed semen to Ksh1000. I don't want to hear that a farmer has been overcharged," the president said.
"This will ensure that when farmers serve their animals the seed, they are sure that the calf will be of quality. My plan is to ensure that we increase agricultural yields through milk. Some farmers have been complaining about the high prices, but now you have the chance to transition from the cheap seeds that often lead to guesswork to sexed semen, which guarantees you quality produce," he added.
It is not the first time the president has called for a reduction in the price of this commodity. Last year, in his speech on the 61st Madaraka Day, on Saturday, June 1, the President ordered the cost of sexed semen to be reduced from Ksh8,000 to Ksh3,000.
Speaking in Masinde Muliro Stadium in Bungoma, the president asserted that the move will be fundamental in promoting domestic and international trade.
“I have directed that the cost of sexed semen be reduced from Ksh8,000 to under Ksh3,000,” Ruto said.
On the other hand, the head of state has further directed the Ministry of Agriculture to kickstart a national vaccination campaign targeting mastitis, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and lumpy skin disease.
