India-Kenya Dairy Innovation Bridge Programme is a three-year initiative facilitated by USaid, Heifer International and IL&FS. The projects seeks to improve competitiveness in the Kenyan dairy industry and promote use of Indian dairy best practices.
Speaking during the launch of the initiative in Nakuru County, the programme manager, Mr Vikas Ghanghas, said small landholders would be trained and motivated to increase production.
They would also be equipped with skills to provide artificial insemination.
“Although Kenya is the second largest producer of milk in Africa, the dairy sector incurs a lot of losses during production and processing,” Mr Ghangas said.
BOOST PRODUCTION
Local dairy farmers would also be trained on modern animal management and fodder cultivation.
Under the initiative, the Kenyan dairy segment is expected to benefit from improved artificial insemination, better cattle sheds, mobile vet clinics, establishment of bulk milk chillers, new milk collection centres and skills on how to cultivate fodder at home.
Mr Ghangas said there is need for dairy farmers to diversify dairy products to increase household income and enhance development of a robust and efficient dairy value chain.
“Dairy farmers should come up with more innovative products from milk so as to boost milk consumption and in the process create businesses for themselves,” Mr Ghangas said.
East Africa Dairy Development programme manager, Mr Egesa Mang’eni, said the plan would greatly benefit small-scale dairy farmers through training.
“Dairy farmers will learn how to increase milk production. We expect them to become commercial producers,” Mr Egesa said.
Mr Mangeni commended dairy farmers for using technology such as dispensers in the supermarkets. He urged them to embrace goats milk business.
Source: Daily Nation