Browsing: Dairy industry in Kenya

The production of animal feeds in Kenya has always been seen as the main challenge affecting the quality and price of milk production, compared to other countries in the East African region. For example, the cost of animal feeds imported from Uganda tends to be affordable compared to those produced in Kenya, accounting for a huge percent of the production cost.

According to data from Kenya’s ministry of agriculture, feed currently accounts for 60 to 70% of livestock enterprise production costs.

While Kenyan farmers have relied on processed feeds from established companies, agricultural researchers have been pushing for the adoption of more nutrient-rich fodder crops to supplement the use of nippier grass and traditional pasture. For example, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Institute (KARLO) have been promoting the rollout of Bracharia, a vegetative grass that has its origin in Kenya but is …

The dairy industry in East and Central Africa is a multi-billion-dollar business supporting millions of small to medium farmers as well as a vibrant retail and manufacturing value chain across the region.  Dairy production plays an important role in supporting livelihoods and economies across East Africa.  

According to the East and Southern Africa Dairy Association (ESADA), 12 billion litres of milk are produced in East Africa annually, accounting for 27.5% of the continent’s 2017 output.  

Over 30 companies are involved in the processing and distributing milk including the region’s largest dairy processor Brookside Dairy, which has a market share of 40% in Kenya and the largest distribution and retail network in Uganda. Brookside is a powerful enterprise that boasts of Kenya’s first family on its board and controls a majority stake in Kenya’s processed milk. French dairy giant Danone is also a shareholder though it controls most of its …