Kenya empowers farmers with hybrid dairy cows to boost milk production

KENYA – The county government of Kwale has distributed 30 hybrid dairy cows and 144 hardy gala goats to small-scale farmers in Msambweni and Lunga Lunga Sub-counties to boost milk production in the region.

The initiative, funded by the World Bank through the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Socio-Economic Development (KEMSFED) project, is designed to increase milk production, enhance food security, and stimulate the county’s economy through livestock farming.

Each beneficiary received a dairy cow, personal protective equipment (PPE), vaccines and supplements, starter feed packs, grass seeds, and sexed semen to support breeding.

The initiative is designed not only to improve dairy farming productivity but also to contribute to food security and poverty reduction in the region.

Governor Fatuma Achani, who presided over the milk cattle and goats’ distribution exercise reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to scaling up livestock farming as a pathway to economic empowerment.

“I want to state that milk production and value addition in our county will thrive. Through the continuous distribution of dairy cows and goats, we aim to increase farmers’ income and improve their quality of life,” she said.

Achani says the county has been providing robust support to local farmers through various veterinary and agricultural extension services.

The Governor noted that the hybrid dairy cows and gala goats’ donation is one of the agriculture value chain programmes aimed at increasing ‘productivity and profitability’ in the region.

“The partnership with KEMFSED is a deliberate drive towards diversifying the economy and its commitment to long-term sustainability in food security as well as adding value and enhancing efficiency in the local dairy sector,” she said.

The initiative is part of the KEMFSED project that is worth KES.10 billion (US$77.07 million). It was implemented by the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries with support from the World Bank, with the project duration lasting between 2020-2025.

In 2020, the government also distributed 30 dairy cows and seven calves to boost milk production in the region.

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