Nairobi: The County Government of Nakuru has pledged to continue strengthening the dairy sector by investing in projects that help farmers reduce post-harvest losses and increase their incomes.
According to Kenya News Agency, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Mr. Leonard Bor emphasized that the administration remains committed to building a more profitable dairy sector for the region’s farmers through various initiatives. Mr. Bor highlighted the significance of the dairy value chain as a crucial economic pillar supporting millions of livelihoods, including those of farmers, transporters, processors, retailers, and consumers.
Mr. Bor explained that the interventions are part of Governor Susan Kihika’s administration’s efforts to revitalize the dairy sector with a focus on value addition and job creation. Initiatives such as distributing milk coolers, training farmers on animal feed formulation, vaccination drives, and livestock disease surveillance are actively boosting productivity, minimizing post-harvest losses, and increasing farmers’ incomes, according to the CECM.
During a meeting with officials of the Elburgon Progressive Cooperative Society and the director of the Poland-East Africa Economic Foundation, Mr. Robert Zdunczyk, Mr. Bor disclosed plans to craft regional and international partnerships. These partnerships aim to equip farmers with modern dairy production skills, improve access to advanced farming technologies, and enhance the competitiveness of cooperative societies, thereby increasing milk production and household incomes.
The county government’s consistent investment in farmer training, improved breeding technologies, and cold-chain infrastructure is aimed at enhancing milk quality and increasing the competitiveness of Kenyan dairy products in both regional and international markets. Strengthening cooperative societies through technical training and international partnerships is expected to improve farm management practices and increase profitability while creating employment opportunities for young people in agriculture.
The collaboration with the Poland-East Africa Economic Foundation is designed to facilitate knowledge exchange, farmer training, and access to modern agricultural machinery through cooperative societies. This partnership is intended to build farmers’ capacity to adopt climate-smart and commercially viable dairy farming practices, thereby improving productivity across the county.
Bor emphasized the importance of working closely with the national government to strengthen milk aggregation, processing, and market access through key milk collection centers. He called for collective support to enhance the dairy value chain as a means to reduce poverty and create jobs, reiterating the County Government’s commitment to supporting farmers through capacity building and improved market access both locally and internationally.
Official statistics show that livestock contributes significantly to Kenya’s economy, accounting for 50 percent of Agricultural GDP and over 10 percent of the National GDP. The dairy sub-sector alone generates approximately Sh237 billion annually, with Kenya being one of Africa’s leading countries in dairy cattle production. The industry’s growth rate is estimated at 3 percent to 4 percent per year, and it is recognized as a vital source of household incomes and food security by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has developed a Dairy Master Plan 2010-2030 and a Kenya Dairy Industry Transformation Strategy and Investment Plan 2022-2032, which guide the industry’s development. Mr. Bor stated that the county government is striving to make the dairy subsector a leading contributor to socio-economic development through production, value addition, and marketing, working with all stakeholders and development partners to maximize available opportunities and resources.
The partnership with the Poland-East Africa Economic Foundation is expected to provide dairy farmers with practical knowledge and exposure to modern farming technologies, improving efficiency, increasing milk yields, and strengthening the county’s dairy value chain. Members of the Elburgon Progressive Cooperative Society will participate in an exchange program for hands-on training in feed and forage formulation, modern dairy production techniques, and the use of mechanized farm equipment.
Mr. Bor urged beneficiaries of the partnership to share acquired skills with other farmer groups and cooperatives to ensure the program’s benefits extend to more dairy producers across the county. He emphasized the importance of knowledge transfer and collaboration among cooperatives in building a resilient and sustainable dairy industry capable of competing in local and international markets.
The partnership complements ongoing efforts by the County Government to modernize dairy farming through subsidized artificial insemination (AI) services, improved breeding programs, and investment in milk handling infrastructure. The county has supplied milk coolers to several dairy cooperatives, including Elburgon Progressive Cooperative Society, to improve milk quality, reduce post-harvest losses, and increase farmers’ earnings.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), dairy farming plays a critical role in improving rural livelihoods by providing regular household income, creating employment, and enhancing food and nutrition security. FAO notes that improvements in animal genetics, quality feeds, and farmer training are among the most effective interventions for increasing milk productivity.
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) observes that knowledge exchange and the adoption of modern livestock technologies enable smallholder farmers to improve productivity and strengthen resilience to climate change and fluctuating market conditions. In Kenya, the dairy industry is a leading agricultural sub-sector, with livestock contributing significantly to agricultural GDP and supporting the livelihoods of millions of Kenyans through production, processing, transportation, and marketing.
The State Department for Livestock Development estimates that Kenya produces more than 5 billion liters of milk annually, positioning it as one of Africa’s leading milk producers. The sector supports over 1.8 million smallholder dairy farmers, with cooperatives playing a vital role in milk collection, value addition, and market access.
For Nakuru farmers, the collaboration is expected to improve dairy productivity, promote the adoption of modern farming practices, strengthen cooperative societies, and expand market opportunities, ultimately increasing household incomes and contributing to Kenya’s food security and economic growth.
