Missing links in the slow growing dairy sector

“Farmers should invest in on-farm fodder production to cut cost,” Anton Jansen, SNV Kenya

What you need to know:

  • The government should also introduce or enforce Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) systems in the feed concentrate industry and crowd out jua kali feed “manufacturers”.
  • To enhance competitiveness and growth in agricultural value chains, there is need for farmers, farmer-owned milk collection and marketing organisations or cooperative societies, processors and the like, to create economies of scale and to strive for sector consolidation rather than fragmentation.
  • In dairy, SNV works in all major milk sheds with groups of medium and large scale farmers (MSFs), including telephone farmers who employ farm managers.

Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) works with international advisers and local partners to equip farmers and organisations with knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes. Anton Jansen is the SNV Kenya Market-led Dairy Programme (KMDP) Coordinator. He spoke to JULIUS SIGEI.

Kenya’s dairy sector has a huge potential. What needs to be done for it to put more money in farmers’ pockets?

We should enhance dairy management skills of farmers and access to good quality fodder to reduce costs of production and boost productivity. Dairy societies, for instance, can enhance business management skills and governance practices to ensure more profitable operations and higher returns to their farmers.

Poor quality and high cost of feeds are a big challenge to farmers. What opportunities are there in this gap?

Farmers can invest in on-farm fodder production and preservation, notably forage maize and high protein grass. Productivity and quality of commercial fodder supply chains can also be enhanced. The government should also introduce or enforce Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) systems in the feed concentrate industry and crowd out jua kali feed “manufacturers”. Entry barriers in this industry need to be much higher than is currently the case.

What should be done to ensure farmers embrace technology?

There is need to shift government and donor support more towards those farmers that have ability and desire to invest in dairy as a core business and who have sufficient land and capital to expand their dairy businesses to 20-40-60 high breed cows, with the ability to grow fodder on farm.

To enhance competitiveness and growth in agricultural value chains, there is need for farmers, farmer-owned milk collection and marketing organisations or cooperative societies, processors and the like, to create economies of scale and to strive for sector consolidation rather than fragmentation.

Most smallholders do not have economically viable units for commercial dairy farmers. Pro-poor approaches will not necessarily help sector growth. The government and the private sector should invest in high quality practical dairy training centres in the major milk sheds and go into partnerships with international practical dairy training institutions to assure quality of training.

Many professionals have lost money in what is called telephone farming due to poor management. Are there any programmes within SNV that can reverse this trend?

In dairy, SNV works in all major milk sheds with groups of medium and large scale farmers (MSFs), including telephone farmers who employ farm managers. These farmers are organised in study groups and are being trained and exposed to best dairy farming practices by SNV and partners from the Netherlands. In the North Rift, this MSF approach is prominent through the collaboration with Eldoret Dairy Farmers Association (EDFA). SNV has a strong training programme in place for EDFA secretariat and farmers.

What can dairy farmers in Kenya learn from their Dutch counterparts?

The best practices in dairy management and fodder production that can be transferred one-to-one to Kenya. I am talking about best practices as regards to sector organisation and governance. The Netherlands has a strong, high-tech dairy sector. Investing in the Kenyan dairy sector will make it able to engage in trade, technology adoption and technology transfer.

What other sectors is SNV involved in here in Kenya?

We are also in horticulture, extensive livestock in arid and semi-arid lands, renewable energy (notably biogas), water and sanitation.