Resilient food and agriculture systems in Kenya within the COVID-19 pandemic: Opportunities and challenges (focus on livestock)
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
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Abstract: Re-purposing ILRI labs to support national COVID-19 testing in Kenya: At the onset of increased transmission of COVID-19 in Kenya,the Kenyan government requested ILRI to support the national diagnostic effort. Leveraging on ILRI’s vast experience and expertise in molecular diagnosis and infectious disease research,labs,tools and staff in ILRI’s headquarters in Nairobi were repurposed for COVID-19 testing. COVID-19 testing reagents and extra equipment were purchased and ILRI initiated testing from 1st June 2020. The laboratory can process and test more than 360 samples daily,which can be doubled as needed. Over 13,700 samples have been tested in the first 4 months,with an additional 20,000 expected before the end of the year. This program falls under the ILRI-led One Health Research,Education and Outreach Centre for Africa (OHRECA). In countries with limited resources and widespread local transmission,testing allows for early identification of transmission chain and informs response to contain the pandemic and reduce mortality. Measuring impacts of COVID-19 through RHoMIS : The Rural Household Multi-Indicator Survey (RHoMIS) has developed a module on COVID-19 to gain insights on the impacts of the pandemic on smallholder farming practices and livelihoods,including disruptions due to changed sales or purchases at markets,transport challenges,loss of off-farm income and changes in labour availability. These impacts so far are poorly monitored,despite stark warnings by FAO and the UN of the risks of scaling back gains made in rural development and national food security. Initial pilots of the module have been completed,surveying farmers in Vietnam and Kenya,with further surveys anticipated to reach up to 6,000 smallholder households in Cambodia,Burkina Faso,Mozambique and East Africa over the coming three months. The data gathered will be rapidly analysed,made accessible through dashboards and reports,and promoted through established institutional channels to decision makers to better target their crisis response.