KENYA – A group of Canadian university graduates has introduced an innovative, portable pasteurization machine that aims to tackle the crucial issues of milk safety and affordability in Kenya’s dairy sector.
The new technology promises to support small-scale dairy farmers by offering a cost-effective solution to ensure milk is safe for consumption, thereby reducing milk-related diseases and improving financial outcomes for farmers.
In Kenya, smallholder farmers contribute to 56% of the country’s milk production, with an estimated five million dairy cattle generating approximately five billion liters annually.
Despite this substantial output, only 28% of the milk is processed and pasteurized by dairy companies. The remaining 72% is sold directly to consumers, with vendors relying on traditional methods of heating and reheating milk over a fire, which is insufficient for ensuring its safety.
The newly developed portable pasteurizer, created by the startup Safi, addresses these challenges by enabling farmers to pasteurize their milk affordably and efficiently.
Miraal Kabir, the head of Safi, highlighted the dual impact of the technology noting that It solves two problems.
“The primary issue is the safety of milk, which is currently not guaranteed, leading to numerous health issues and deaths, particularly among young children. Secondly, it empowers small-scale farmers financially by allowing them to pasteurize their milk and retain a premium price.”
The device is designed to be user-friendly and practical. It is placed on top of a pot, equipped with a whisk to ensure even heating, and features a screen and LED lights to guide users through the pasteurization process.
A built-in temperature sensor alerts the user when the milk has reached the appropriate pasteurization temperature.
Moses Sitati, a dairy farmer from western Kenya, has been using the pasteurizer for the past year. Sitati’s cows produce 60 liters of milk per day, with 10 liters previously spoiling before it could be consumed.
“With the pasteurizer, I can sell milk directly to consumers without the need for additional boiling. It helps preserve the milk longer, maintaining its quality and nutritional value,” he said.
The pasteurizer has been well-received by other farmers and vendors in Kenya and Rwanda.
Sitati noted improvements in the latest version of the machine, including increased capacity (from 2 to 20 liters), a new lid to prevent spillage, and the switch from electricity to solar energy, which offers up to four hours of operation on a full charge.
Safi’s collaboration with the Rwandan government, which has supported commercialization efforts, marks a significant milestone for the startup.
“Our device captures all key pasteurization data, allowing farmers to prove milk safety to customers and helping regulators monitor milk safety across regions,” Kabir emphasized.
The Safi team is now seeking a reliable manufacturer to begin large-scale production of the pasteurizer, with the goal of making billions of liters of milk disease-free and accessible across Africa.
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