Milk processors woo small-scale dairy farmers to boost supply

The fight for control of raw milk supply in the Rift Valley has shifted to smallholder farmers as processors seek to build volumes amid looming shortage. The two main rivals in the sector – Brookside Dairy and New KCC – have camped at farm gates with bags of goodies that include free extension services, improved producer prices and inputs advanced on credits.

“Our focus on smallholder dairy farmers is premised on the need to attain sustainability in the dairy sector,” said John Gethi, Brookside Dairy’s general manager in charge of milk procurement and extension services.

He added: “We want to build capacity in the smallholder farmer to produce milk throughout all seasons and significantly reduce dependence on rain-fed dairy production.”

Recently, Brookside gathered nearly 2,000 smallholder farmers in Nakuru County for a dairy training course at Olenguruone in Kuresoi South.

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The farmers were trained on dairy cattle feeding, including silage making. They were also taken through farm records and cattle disease identification and management. Brookside, which is the dominant sector player, has been encouraging the farmers to join saccos to supply milk in bulk.

On the other hand, farmers who supply milk to New KCC have been promised easy access to credit facilities after the firm entered into partnership with financial institutions and other service providers.

The manager in charge milk procurement, Dominic Menjo said the initiative aims to create a one-stop shop where dairy farmers will get access to financial institutions, insurance, agrovets, transport and extension services agencies.

The new focus on farmers appears to have come as a last resort after processors ended damaging price wars that began early this year. The sector’s reliance on rain-fed agriculture has in the past caused seasonal fluctuations in raw milk supply, which is either in short supply or in abundance depending on the season of the year.