How smallholder dairy farming is transforming rural economies

 

In Kenya approximately 1 million rural poor households depend on dairy and dairy related products for their livelihoods as smallholder dairy farmers. The greatest challenge nonetheless has been lack of a commercial mind amongst most of these smallholder dairy farmers with most products being sold at poor prices to middlemen or at farm gates. Poor production systems and inadequate technical backstop were also affecting negatively milk production.

This has resulted in a cycle of poverty despite farmers having dairy animals that should lift them from this situation. Poor production compounded with bad markets has not only resulted in low household incomes but also nutritional challenge as the milk cannot meet the daily subsistence needs. Such smallholder dairy farmers if supported to organize themselves into groups or cooperatives can have a great potential to increase their incomes.