Kenyan County unlocks dairy sector potential through strategic pillars

KENYA – The county government of Makueni has rolled out a set of long-term solutions through its Dairy Development Strategy underpinned by four pillars to boost the dairy sector.

During a dairy farmers’ day held at Makiou Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society, themed “Makueni is investing in its farmers, its children’s nutrition, and its future through dairy,” it was revealed that, despite a current milk production of approximately 40 million litres annually in Makueni, the county still imports milk to meet its demand.

Agriculture Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza shared how the Agriculture Department is taking bold steps to grow the dairy sector from the ground up. Kiminza noted that the pillars include: improved dairy breeds, better livestock nutrition, robust disease management and modern milk aggregation and marketing systems.

Among the key programs implemented by the county government to support this goal are the subsidised Artificial Insemination (AI) initiative, which helps farmers access quality breeds at affordable rates, and the introduction of the Makueni Animal Feeds Development Strategy, ensuring year-round access to nutritious livestock feed.

Additionally, an official of the county government noted that the Livestock Department is running a robust vaccination campaign against major dairy diseases, alongside regular farmer training sessions on best dairy practices, making dairy farming both productive and sustainable.

The county government also stated that it has invested heavily in boosting dairy farming by supporting local cooperatives with a good number of the 18 dairy cooperatives spread across the county receiving vital equipment such as milk coolers, pasteurizers, transport vehicles, electricity connections and even mini-processing plants.

Notably, Kikima and Kathonzweni Dairy Cooperatives are among those benefiting from these upgrades. These improvements are helping farmers manage their milk more effectively, maintain quality, and earn more from their produce.

As the county celebrated the strides made in dairy farming, it was noted that partnerships with development agencies like the World Bank (through NAVCDP and DRIVE) and FAO have immensely contributed towards helping scale up feed security and commercialization.

This year’s theme reflects Governor Mutula’s commitment to improving lives by ensuring food security, growing household incomes, empowering communities and promoting agro-industrial growth across the county.

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