Milk production in Kenya has been common mainly in the highland areas of the country. Some households keep cows for household consumption of milk while others keep the cows for commercial milk. In the recent past most farmers in Molo subcounty had started adopting milk production as a source of income. Milk production in Kenya, generally exhibits seasonality in line with the regime and availability of nutrients from cheap grazing or fodder. Owing to this fact the main challenge that farmers face in Dairy production is feeding.
The farmers are still using the traditional knowledge to feed their cows, this reduces milk production in the cows. They mainly use the indigenous Napier grass, use of weeds and free-range grazing especially after the harvesting season is over. The cost of commercial feed is so high that the small-scale farmers cannot meet that cost. The 3Es organization has been working with farmers to provide sustainable solutions to this challenge.
The organization has been training farmers on fodder diversification, fodder conservation and good agricultural practices in their farms. The training also included dairy management and breeding. Mainly the farmers have been supplied with different types of fodder that provide different nutrients for the cows. The fodder supplied include Sweet potato vines, lucerne, Super Napier, Oat ,fodder trees and yellow maize for silage making. These types of fodders provide protein and Energy for the cows. The farmers were trained on Silage making to conserve fodder especially during the dry season of the year. This was to maintain their milk production throughout all the seasons of the year.
The farmers were also trained on improving their breed to increase milk production. They were linked to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Molo subcounty to be able to get artificial insemination services. At least 20% of over 200 farmers that we are working with have gotten the services so far and are awaiting the outcome. This improvement will increase their milk production gradually.Since these training sessions were done the farmers have seen an increase in milk production by an average of 5 liters per cow per day. The farmers are now appreciating the training that was given to them last year that has led to increased milk production. The gradual increase in milk production is attributed to adoption of good agricultural practices by the small holder farmers. The use of diverse fodder and use of Silage to feed the cows. The increase in milk production and the exploitative market prices prompted the organization to support a group, the Mau Juhudi Self Help Group, to start a milk bar and link the farmers to the milk bar. They supply their milk and get paid 48 shillings per liter instead of the original 38 shillings per liter that was being paid by the brokers. It is 26% more added to the farmers!
Before we met 3E we were doing dairy farming as a tradition but after they started the training they have changed our minds and we are now doing it as an income generating activity. We have been able to diversify the fodder planted. The organization also enabled us to understand the importance of utilizing the manure as fertilizer in the farm and I can attest that I have seen change in the soils and production. My cow’s milk production has also increased from 7 liters per day to 12 liters. My cows are now on zero grazing because there is sufficient food for them. I have also conserved 500 kgs of fodder that I am currently using since it is a dry season. We thank the organization for the support.
Mary Wachuka, a member of Kahuho B said
Additionally, there farmers have seen notable changes in their farms like increased tree cover in the farm through the fodder trees, soil fertility restoration through use of organic manure instead of chemical based fertilizers and soil erosion prevention by use of contours. Some of these farmers have actually reduced use of chemical fertilizers in their farms by 20%. In the next few years these farmers will have restored their soils completely.
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