Dairy farmers in Taita Taveta County could soon gain access to a larger and more reliable market for their milk under plans to establish a farmer owned dairy enterprise at the New Kenya Co-operative Creameries (KCC) plant in Miritini, Mombasa.
The proposed arrangement that was announced is expected to give farmers a greater role in the dairy value chain, with cooperatives forming the link between milk producers and the processing market.
However, farmers will need to increase milk production and improve collective marketing if they are to take advantage of the opportunity.
Currently, Taita Taveta produces approximately 10,000 litres of milk daily, collected through various milk collection centres from about 6,500 farmers who keep more than 10,000 dairy cattle.
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The county has set its sights on increasing daily production to 195,000 litres, a target that could significantly raise household incomes if farmers can organise themselves into effective marketing structures and secure a reliable market.
At a price of 65 shillings per litre, the targeted production would generate approximately 12.68 million shillings daily, translating to about 4.63 billion shillings annually.
The figures highlight the economic potential of the dairy sector, particularly for small scale farmers who depend on livestock for their livelihoods.
Cooperatives at the centre of the dairy value chain
Speaking during an engagement with dairy farmers from Taveta, Mwatate, Voi and Taita sub counties, County Executive Committee Member for Livestock Production Dawson Katuu Mzenge urged farmers to strengthen their cooperatives and embrace collective milk marketing.
He said working together would help farmers overcome challenges associated with individual milk sales, including dependence on brokers, while improving their bargaining power and access to markets.
“By strengthening cooperatives, farmers can overcome broker related problems and Even unlock Taita Taveta’s production potential,”
Mzenge called for a change in mindset, noting that previous generations had benefited from collective efforts and that farmers needed to revive the spirit of cooperation to unlock the county’s dairy potential.
The importance of functional cooperatives is also reflected in their current numbers.
According to Chief Officer for Livestock Production Mcharo Mwalugha, Taita Taveta has more than 300 cooperatives, but only about 150 are operational. Of these, 11 are dairy cooperatives.
The low number of active dairy cooperatives presents a challenge to efforts to organise milk producers, coordinate collection and negotiate better market arrangements.
Farmers have therefore been encouraged to take an active role in their cooperatives and strengthen governance and accountability structures.
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Feed production key to increasing milk yields
Beyond market access, raising milk production will depend on the availability of quality animal feed.
The County Government, through the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) and the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme, has established 14 fodder demonstration sites and a 10-acre fodder multiplication centre, respectively.
Farmers are also being encouraged to grow Juncao grass, Super Napier and Sugargraze to improve livestock feeding and increase milk yields.
These interventions are intended to help farmers improve fodder availability and reduce feeding challenges that can affect dairy productivity.
Regional cooperation to support farmer ownership
During the engagement, farmers elected a new committee to lead the Taita Taveta Dairy Cooperatives Union.
The union is expected to coordinate local dairy cooperatives and work with counterparts in Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi towards establishing the Pwani Dairy Cooperative Union.
The regional union is expected to support efforts to establish a farmer owned dairy enterprise at the New KCC Miritini plant, giving farmers an opportunity to participate more directly in milk processing and marketing.
The newly elected Taita Taveta committee will be led by Chairman Job Mwakesi, with Josephine Cherongo as Vice Chairperson, Apolnary Tulu as Secretary and Thomas Matandi as Treasurer.
Other committee members are Danson Mwamburi, Perpetual Mghoi, Margaret Mwang’ombe, Nashon Mwadime and Rose Mwasi.
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