5,300 grazing licenses issued as Kuwait moves to expand livestock areas
Kuwait to begin removing unlicensed grazing sites on October 1
Kuwait’s Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries is seeking to expand and increase the number of designated grazing sites as the authority continues issuing grazing licenses, with around 5,300 licenses issued so far. The Agricultural Forestry Department has asked Kuwait Municipality to allocate additional grazing sites and expand the areas currently designated for livestock, responding to concerns raised by livestock owners over overcrowding and limited space at some existing locations.
An official source at the authority told Al-Rai that applications for grazing licenses remain open and are not subject to a specific deadline, provided designated grazing land is available and applicants meet the required conditions.
Kuwait Municipality had previously allocated nine grazing areas across the northern and southern parts of the country.
The source said the Agriculture Authority requested an increase in both the number of grazing sites and the areas allocated within them during a meeting with Kuwait Municipality last week.
The request followed complaints from livestock owners that some existing sites are too small and located too close to one another, potentially creating health, environmental and social concerns linked to livestock overcrowding and the proximity of animal holdings.
Meanwhile, authorities will begin removing violations and unlicensed sites on Thursday, October 1, in coordination with the relevant government agencies. The official stressed that the start of the removal campaign does not mean applications for grazing licenses will be closed.
Applications will continue to be accepted whenever suitable land is available and applicants meet the required conditions, with appointments to review applications arranged in advance. The authority also urged applicants who have previously submitted requests but have not completed their documents and procedures to finalize their files promptly to avoid having their applications cancelled.
The official stressed that the authority is seeking to regulate grazing activities in a way that ensures compliance with requirements while protecting livestock and the environment. Expanding and reorganizing grazing areas is also intended to address livestock owners’ concerns and achieve a more suitable distribution of sites, helping reduce overcrowding and related problems.
The official noted that holders of valid grazing licenses have rights to the land allocated to them. However, the current grazing licenses are temporary and may be cancelled whenever requested by the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries or any other government agency in the public interest.
