| Sumario: | This report synthesizes insights captured during the red meat value chain (RMVC) digital landscape workshop in Kenya. Contributions from livestock keepers and traders, feed suppliers, policymakers, financial institutions, and county/national agencies were consolidated to assess current digital tool use, data flows, readiness levels, key constraints, and innovation opportunities.
Digital uptake is uneven: basic channels such as SMS/USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) and WhatsApp are ubiquitous, whereas advanced apps face constraints linked to connectivity, device affordability, and digital literacy.
Data flows remain fragmented across market, animal health, movement, security, and finance domains, with recurrent trust gaps, missing records, and communication breakdowns, especially during disease outbreaks and security incidents.
Readiness varies by actor; policymakers and financial institutions generally report advanced access and higher digital literacy, while livestock keepers typically have basic access and lower literacy but show moderate willingness to adopt when tools are simple and affordable.
The most frequently cited constraints include low financial literacy and trust, gaps in localization and product fit, connectivity and affordability issues, and variable data quality. The innovation portfolio converges on digital livestock identification and registration; verifiable price and transaction records; a marketplace for feed and inputs; AI-supported early warning for disease and security; and livestock-based credit scoring coupled with bundled financial services.
Taken together, a phased, inclusive digitalization anchored in SMS/USSD and offline-first designs supported by data standards, training, and policy/industry buy-in, can unlock transparency, reduce risk, and enable finance and traceability across the value chain.
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