Kenya adopts Indian dairy model with advanced milk testing & payment systems

KENYA – Kenya’s dairy cooperatives, farmer-led organisations, have integrated advanced milk testing technologies and launched quality-based payment systems to improve milk standards and farmer earnings.

The dairy cooperatives across the country are adopting advanced milk testing technologies and launching quality-based payment systems, inspired by India’s renowned National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) model.

A visit by Kenyan dairy stakeholders to India has laid the groundwork for a transformative shift in how milk quality is assessed, recorded, and remunerated in Kenya.

We were inspired by how Indian cooperatives turned quality control into a farmer empowerment tool,” said a project lead from Agriterra Kenya.

The study visit to Prompt Equipment in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, offered an in-depth look at the technology that could make quality-based milk payment (QBMP) a reality.

The Prompt iSmart Sanchay milk analyser is a mobile device capable of measuring critical milk quality parameters like butterfat, SNF (solids-not-fat), added water, and density in under 40 seconds.

Designed for rural mobility, the Sanchay runs on solar power and boasts cloud integration, enabling real-time data sharing with cooperative offices.

Its compatibility with mobile applications and capacity for easy data export positions it as a powerful tool for cooperatives eager to introduce performance-based farmer payments.

The delegation also examined Prompt’s Milk Sangrah App – an automated milk collection platform that sends SMS updates to farmers and records transactions in the cloud.

The digital platforms are being integrated into cooperative operations, allowing farmers to track their milk quality and payments in real time. Mobile applications and cloud-based data systems help ensure transparency and reduce exploitation by middlemen.

The quality-based payment system ensures farmers are rewarded for producing high-quality milk rather than being paid a flat rate per litre. This new model incentivises better feeding practices, hygiene, and animal health, improving milk safety and boosting Kenya’s dairy exports.

Prompt Equipment, a pioneer in India’s dairy tech sector, is renowned for supporting Amul, the world’s largest dairy cooperative, and their robust, tech-driven systems for milk collection, analysis, and farm management.

The Kenyan delegation, which included leaders from two major dairy cooperatives, technical advisors from Agriterra, and representatives from Bio Foods Ltd, visited Prompt’s headquarters, toured manufacturing plants, and engaged directly with software developers and product engineers to evaluate the practicality of deploying this technology in Kenya.

Subscribe to our email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE