Brookside’s Sh35m Show to aid dairy farmers up yields

By NICHOLAS WAITATHU

Nairobi,Kenya:Dairy farmers stand to earn more owing an increase in  demand for milk and other livestock products.

The rapid urbanisation as well as  a huge population has upped demand for milk, providing more revenue streams for farmers.

 Brookside Dairy Company General Manager in charge of milk procurement and extension services Mr John Gethi said the dairy sub-sector has huge potential of recording more growth in terms of productivity on the continent.

 “The industry has registered impressive performance of up to 10 folds for the last one decade. The growth has been occasioned by reforms in as well as among industry stakeholders,” Gethi said. 

event publicity

Speaking at the signing of a media partnership with Standard Group Limited (SGL) last week, Gethi said Kenya is performing well in terms of dairy farming compared to majority of countries in Africa.

Currently, the country enjoys position two after South Africa.

The partnership requires SGL to publicise The Livestock Breeders Show later this month (June 26-28) through KTN, Standard Newspaper, Radio Maisha and PDS.  “A lot of investments are needed to assist in exploiting the huge potential in the dairy industry. In this way, it will be easier to solve some of the issue facing the country such as unemployment,” he added.

Gethi, said there is need for the Government to continue organising educational events, extension services, field days and enlightening farmers on feed preservation to ensure the sub-sector continues to register sound growth.

Gethi noted that the exhibition is open to all livestock farmers in the country.  It will also serve as an opportunity for farmers and service providers to share experiences as well as seek ways of enhancing productivity.

 “We have invited all the farmers to learn about dairy farming so that they can produce more to feed the national serve the regional markets,” he added.

He said the previous Shows have contributed to the growth of local and regional dairy and livestock sector. This, he said continues to inspire particularly small-scale farmers to upgrade their agricultural methods.

 The company has sponsored the event to a tune of Sh35 million under ‘Farmers’ Show Programme’ through which it works with about 100,000 small-scale dairy farmers to increase their milk production.  Gethi observed that the Show is geared towards promoting the Livestock industry through display of superior livestock and livestock health and nutritional products.

Others include modern livestock farming technology and seminars on topical issues relating to dairy and beef production among other issues of national interest. SGL Chief Executive Officer Sam Shollei said the move that will spur development for many farmers.

huge benefits

SGL Managing Director, Print Operations, Ms Neema Wamae said the coverage will attract audiences nationally who hope to benefit in the vast sector of livestock breeding.

 “Our contribution is to mainly sensitise the market and raise standards to the dairy farming in the country. We will exploit all of our channels to give publicity to this activity,” she said.

Ms Wamae challenged farmers to venture into the livestock farming, mainly dairy as it had tangible proceeds and quick returns. Escalation of cost of inputs last year negatively affected milk production in the country.

Accordingly to the Economic Survey 2013, the quantity of milk delivered to dairy processors recorded a significant drop from, 549 million litres in 2011 to 495.2 litres in 2012, after posting growths in last three years.

During the same period, the quantity of processed milk output from processing plants decreased by 11.3 per cent while that of butter and ghee went down by 9.7 percent.

Production of cheese dropped from 290.3 tonnes in 2011 to 254.9 tonnes in 2012. Gethi said despite the drop dairy products witnessed last year, the industry has recorded tremendous growth for the last one decade.  

“Our productivity currently in terms of milk production is not that impressive. In South Africa, a farmer produce on average over 5000 kilos per day while in Kenya a farmer produces between five and seven kilos,” he added.

“It is an opportunity for Kenya to showcase advancement in the genetic improvement of its national herd and interact for educative purposes,” Gethi said.