Githunguri dairy receives 10,000L milk storage cooler

KENYA – Githunguri dairy farmers have received a 10,000-litre milk cooling tank provided through the State Department of Livestock Development.

This is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, improve milk preservation, and allow farmers to handle more than 20,000 litres of milk daily.

The project is part of the government’s Bottom‑Up Economic Transformation Agenda aimed at strengthening agricultural value chains and improving livelihoods.

Kenya’s dairy industry, one of the largest in Africa, continues to struggle with high levels of milk spoilage and post‑harvest losses that undermine farmer incomes and national food security.

Despite producing an estimated 5.7 billion litres of milk annually, experts warn that up to 30% of this output is lost before reaching consumers due to inadequate preservation and storage facilities.

Smallholder farmers, who account for the bulk of Kenya’s milk production, are the most affected. Without access to reliable cold chain infrastructure, milk often spoils within hours of milking.

In rural areas, unreliable electricity supply and poor road networks exacerbate the problem, making it difficult to transport milk to processors in time.

The Kenya Dairy Board and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have repeatedly flagged these losses as a major barrier to growth.

Research by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) shows that spoilage costs farmers billions of shillings annually, eroding profitability and limiting Kenya’s competitiveness in regional dairy markets.

Spoiled milk not only reduces quality standards but also discourages investment and export opportunities.

To address the challenge, the government and cooperatives are investing in modern infrastructure.

Large‑capacity cooling tanks, affordable pasteurization units, and biochemical preservation methods such as the lactoperoxidase system (LPS) are being introduced to extend shelf life and reduce waste.

Beyond technology, experts argue that tackling milk spoilage requires coordinated policy support, investment in rural electrification, and stronger cooperative models to ensure farmers can access markets efficiently.

If these measures are scaled up, Kenya could drastically cut losses, stabilize farmer earnings, and strengthen its position as a leading dairy producer in Africa.

To receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa, the Middle East and around the world, SUBSCRIBE HERE.