Two farmers, two different journeys, but one shared goal: transforming dairy farming in Kawanjara, Kenya. Joseph, the chairman of the Kawanjara Dairy Cooperative Society, and Agostino, a dedicated member, have both played key roles in strengthening their community’s resilience through dairy farming. Their story is one of perseverance, adaptation, and growth.
Before COVID-19: a thriving dairy cooperative
Joseph, now 66, has been passionate about dairy farming since acquiring his first cow in 1989. In 2013, he and fellow farmers formed a self-help group to collectively sell milk. By 2018, they had registered as the Kawanjara Dairy Cooperative Society, gaining access to better resources, including a milk cooling system donated by the Embu County government. Membership grew to 700 farmers, and milk production peaked at 8,000 liters daily in 2020. The cooperative provided training, veterinary support, and financial services, ensuring stability for its members.
Agostino, 65, discovered his passion for dairy farming in 2015. Inspired by a zero-grazing unit at Kangaru Hospital, he purchased four acres of land and eventually built a sustainable dairy business. In 2021, he joined the cooperative to access a reliable market for his milk.
The COVID-19 pandemic and milk supply chain disruption
When the pandemic struck, it severely impacted dairy farming in Kawanjara. Farmers struggled to access animal feed, financial services, and transportation. Many, fearing infection, avoided cooperative activities. Milk production dropped to 3,500 liters per day in 2021, a drastic decline worsened by the prolonged drought of 2021-2022. Dairy farming became unsustainable for many.
A new dawn: the ‘Economic Recovery to the Impact of COVID-19 on Agri-Food Value Chain in Kenya’ project.
In January 2023, Joseph and his cooperative partnered with the ‘Economic Recovery to the Impact of COVID-19 on Agri-Food Value Chain in Kenya’ project. Funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented by AVSI Foundation and E4Impact, the initiative aimed to restore livelihoods in the dairy sector. The project provided farmers with fodder subsidies, training, and technical support to rebuild their businesses. On the other hand, dairy cooperative leadership, including Joseph, have been extensively trained as well as given an 50 - 50 grant avenue to strengthen the storage and processing capacities.
"Through the trainings, I gained skills in policy development, compliance, transparency, accountability, leadership, and stakeholder engagement. I also learned basic computer skills, digital bookkeeping, online payments, and milk collection tracking software. These digital tools have streamlined record-keeping and payment processes within our cooperative."
Joseph, Chairman, Kawanjara Dairy Cooperative Society
For Agostino, this support was transformative. He received subsidized silage seeds and training on silage-making. In 2024, he harvested four acres of silage, ensuring a steady supply of feed for his seven cows. Currently, he milks two cows, producing 25 liters of milk daily - enough for both his family and the market.
“Our society is keen to help the farmers grow their trades by enhancing our ability to access money and services. They train us on how to budget and borrow from partner institutions. This has helped me to invest in improving my cowshed and start fodder preservation through hay and silage making.”
Agostino, a farmer and member of Kawanjara Dairy Cooperative.
Impact and growth: the numbers speak
The project has reached 15,000 farmers within 30 dairy cooperative societies across Meru, Tharaka Nithi, and Embu counties, including 500 members from Kawanjara Cooperative.
Key achievements include:
- Daily milk collection at Kawanjara has risen to 5,500 liters, with a target to surpass previous peaks.
- 2,498 farmers received fodder subsidies and got trained in feeding techniques and artificial insemination.
- Agri-producer group income nearly doubled, from 3.6M KES to 6.8M KES.
- Dairy household income increased from €114.8 to €126.
- Climate-smart technology adoption rose by 7%.
- Digital record-keeping adoption increased from less than 1% to 60%.
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Looking ahead: A future of value addition
The cooperative envisions a future focused on value addition and sustainability. With support from the project, 30 cooperatives, including Kawanjara in the counties of Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Embu will also receive matching grants to improve milk handling, storage, and processing infrastructure. Additionally, 30 youth groups – one per partner dairy cooperative - are receiving training in dairy value chain business opportunities, with grants available for innovative ideas.
Joseph and Agostino’s journeys demonstrate how resilience, innovation, and collaboration can transform small-scale farming. Through collective efforts, the future of dairy farming in Kawanjara looks brighter than ever.