Pastoralist farmers try their hand in high yielding dairy cattle, agribusiness

Pastor Joel Ngengi with his wife in their farm in Masimba, Kibwezi. The farmer who previously kept Zebu-boran and Sahiwal cattle invested in a few dairy cows, which he says are easier to maintain and highly profitable. PHOTO | BRIAN OKINDA | NMG

What you need to know:

  • The Ministry of Agriculture donated a cooler to the group and the women thought their problems were over.
  • The programme will ensure farmers easily supply their milk to the collection centres from where they can earn an income.
  • Pastor Ngengi, who says he sees the benefits of having a few high producing dairy cattle, adds that it was expensive and tasking keeping the large herd of largely traditional animals.
  • The potential of the dairy industry in the country has not been fully harnessed, according to the New Zealand High Commissioner to Kenya, Mark Ramsden.

Up two three years ago, Pastor Joel Ngengi, who lives in Masimba, a small town in Kibwezi, kept traditional Zebu and a few Sahiwal cattle.

The father of three, who owns 100 acres of land, was contented with the large number of animals he considered wealth.

However, with influence from the government and NGOs, he took the decision to try new farming methods.

He exchanged most of the local breeds with five high producing dairy cows.

About seven miles away, in Arroi Sub-Location of Sultan Hamud, Charity Kokway, the chairlady of the 400-member Osotua Women’s Group, delivers 50 litres of milk to a collection-point.

The woman, whose family owns 30 zebu cattle, bemoans the state of the collection centre, which receives up to 1,500 litres of milk daily.

“With the bad condition of our roads, it is difficult for every member of the group to transport milk to the collection centre on time,” she said.

“It rarely reaches the processor in Nairobi since we do not have a working cooling plant.”

Becky Koyian, another group member, echoes Kokway.

For close to three years that she has been in the group, Koyian and other members have had to contend with the problem of wastage.

That was until last year, when the members monthly contributions of Sh1,000 each enabled them acquire an eighth of an acre piece and set up buildings, one which is their collection centre.

The Ministry of Agriculture donated a cooler to the group and the women thought their problems were over.

But because of lack of funds, the cooler still lies idle.

However, the New Zealand Government, through an organisation called ChildFund, has come to the aid of the pastoralists.

IMPROVE AGRICULTURE AND DIVERSIFY LIVELIHOODS

“While the cow belongs to the man of the house among the Maasai, the milk that comes from the animal belongs to the woman,” said Ancelim Gituma, who is in charge of ChildFund’s activities in the region.

“It is for this reason that we sought to help women’s groups and ensure they have good facilities at the collection points.”

The women, who bring their milk to the point, say they are happy as their produce will get to its destination while still fresh.

“We lose large quantities of milk due to poor handling and lack of coolers. This meant the commodity went bad even before it left the collection centre,” said Koyian.

“It demoralised us. Some members almost stopped taking their milk to the centre.”

The organisation is also expected to begin constructing another collection centre at Samli Dairy Farmers’ Cooperative Society, on the Loitokitok Road. It has promised to build five others in the region.

“The aim of the Sh90 million programme is to improve agriculture, diversify livelihoods and provide market pathways for the 1,250 or more farming and pastoralist households,” Mr Maclean Egesa, who is in charge of the dairy scheme in the area said, adding that it would run for four years.

“Through the programme, in which 75 per cent will be women, 20 per cent men, and five per cent youth, we expect to train and instil in farmers proper dairy methods. We want them to understand that they can have few highly productive livestock rather than large herds which are usually easily destroyed by diseases and drought.”

The programme will ensure farmers easily supply their milk to the collection centres from where they can earn an income.

POTENTIAL OF DAIRY INDUSTRY

They will also get training, support from dairy experts and be taught governance and coexistence in cooperatives when they deliver their milk, according to Mr Egesa.

He added out that the dairy programme is not meant to take pastoralism from the community but make residents see the benefits of keeping a few highly productive animals through zero-grazing and paddocking.

“We encourage residents to keep at least five highly productive dairy animals alongside their herds,” Mr Egesa said.

“Let them see the difference this will make in their lives, given that there is a ready market for milk and modernised collection centres will be available.”

Pastor Ngengi, who says he sees the benefits of having a few high producing dairy cattle, adds that it was expensive and tasking keeping the large herd of largely traditional animals.

“I could walk for long distances in search of grass and water daily. On some occasions, a number of my animals got lost on the way or died by the roadside due to fatigue, wild animal attacks and diseases,” said the farmer who how practices zero grazing.

“Lack of pasture and water led to huge losses. I don’t think I made any profits.”

He now harvests grass that grows on his vast land and stores it for his five dairy animals.

“The cows hardly ever lack feed, even during the dry season,” the pastor said.

The potential of the dairy industry in the country has not been fully harnessed, according to the New Zealand High Commissioner to Kenya, Mark Ramsden.

He said it is among the industries that can be depended on to boost Kenya’s food security.

“That is why the dairy programme being undertaken by ChildFund in Emali and Sultan Hamud is appropriate,” he said.