KENYA – The Managing Director of the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB), Margaret Rugut Kibogy, has been visiting dairy processors as part of the ongoing efforts to implement the Dairy Industry Sustainability Roadmap, which aims to transform the dairy sector in Kenya.
According to the authority, the visits highlighted the commitment to creating a sustainable dairy industry that addresses food security, meets nutritional needs, and contributes to economic growth.
The Kenya Dairy Industry Sustainability Roadmap 2023–2033, unveiled in December 2023, is a comprehensive 10-year plan designed to revolutionize the dairy industry.
Its primary goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with the national and global commitments under the Dairy Net Zero campaign.
This roadmap places sustainability at the core of Kenya’s dairy sector, with the goal of enhancing productivity and environmental responsibility.
A key focus of the roadmap is to increase the milk production per cow, doubling Kenya’s current annual milk production from five billion litres to 10 billion litres by 2033.
The plan also aims to increase the formally marketed milk percentage from 30% to 50%, which would significantly boost the income of small-scale dairy farmers.
With an estimated dairy herd population of 5.1 million and over two million smallholder farmers, the dairy industry already plays a crucial role in Kenya’s economy, contributing over Sh230 billion annually.
During the launch of the roadmap in Nairobi, Mithika Linturi, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, emphasized the importance of strategic interventions.
He pointed out that improving access to fodder and quality feeds is essential to enhancing daily milk production per cow, which currently averages less than seven litres.
Linturi stressed that doubling the production per cow, rather than expanding the dairy herd, is the key to increasing overall productivity while maintaining sustainability.
“The envisioned outcome is not only to double the annual milk production but also to elevate the formally marketed milk percentage from 30% to 50%, leading to a substantial increase in the revenue of small-scale dairy farmers to Sh56,000 per month,” he noted.
In line with the global Dairy Net Zero campaign, the roadmap also focuses on transitioning to climate-resilient and low-emission dairy systems.
“The proposal aims to transition the dairy industry to lower greenhouse gas emissions and adapt more climate-resilient dairy systems.”
These efforts include adopting modern technologies and climate-smart practices, enabling Kenya to produce an additional 2.5 billion litres of quality milk annually.
This increase is expected to meet the growing demand for milk and dairy products both locally and regionally, while positioning Kenya competitively in the international market.
Margaret Kibogy outlined the key objectives of the roadmap, which include achieving 105% of local demand for milk production and increasing productivity to 20 litres per lactating cow per day.
By improving productivity and sustainability, the roadmap is expected to not only increase the income of small-scale farmers but also contribute significantly to the national economy.
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