KENYA – The Kenya dairy industry is navigating a complex landscape of challenges and opportunities as small-scale farmers work to improve production despite numerous constraints
A report by the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program highlights that over 80% of Kenya’s rural population is engaged in agriculture, yet the sector contributes only 25% to the national GDP.
The dairy industry alone accounts for 5% of the country’s GDP, making it a key component of Kenya’s economy.
However, with 90% of milk production coming from small-scale dairy farmers, inefficiencies in the sector persist, including high costs of production, fragmented supply chains, low-quality raw milk, expensive farm inputs, and poor dairy animal genetics.
According to the Lower Eastern Dairy Cooperative Alliance (LEDCA), based in Machakos, some of the key obstacles dairy farmers face include expensive milk collection processes and unreliable feeding systems.
According to findings from strategic planning sessions held in December, smallholder farmers are striving to overcome these issues through training, cooperative efforts, and better dairy nutrition practices.
Wilson Kyalo, chairman of LEDCA, has demonstrated the potential for transformation, having grown his dairy farm from one cow to 100 over four decades.
His efforts in training have inspired others, including Jonah Malika, who left his business in Machakos to establish a dairy farm now housing 35 cows.
Malika’s success has led him to set up a training center where farmers receive education on dairy genetics, forage production, and agronomic practices for a fee of 500 Kenya shillings per day.
A report by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) highlights that small-scale dairy farmers are also leveraging group collaborations to source farm inputs and aggregate milk for collective sale.
The growing population in Nairobi is expected to provide a stable market for dairy products, further encouraging expansion efforts.
Farmers are exploring milk processing, transportation, and marketing strategies to enhance their businesses.
Improved dairy nutrition has also emerged as a key factor in boosting productivity, with an increasing emphasis on fodder production, alfalfa cultivation, and quality dairy feed concentrates.
According to CRS, these developments align with broader regional agricultural programs aimed at expanding quality food production and improving nutrition.
The F2F program, funded by the U.S. government and implemented by CRS, has been instrumental in facilitating agricultural advancements in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda for nearly 30 years.
The initiative partners with five U.S. institutions, including the National Catholic Rural Life Conference and the University of Illinois, to provide expertise in agriculture.
Volunteers from the U.S. travel to East Africa for assignments lasting between one and six weeks to work directly with local farmers.
Bruce White, director of the program at CRS, emphasized the significance of the initiative, stating that the collaboration not only benefits East African farmers but also enriches the experience of American volunteers.
He expressed confidence that such partnerships contribute to strengthening global agricultural networks and improving livelihoods for all involved.
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