Kenyan dairy farmers are grappling with escalating production expenses and shrinking arable land, according to recent reports. The challenges include rising input costs for fertilizers, pesticides, and livestock feed, which have eroded profit margins for smallholders.
Experts warn that unpredictable weather patterns, disease outbreaks, and volatile market prices are exacerbating the crisis. David Sang, a farmer from Sergoit in Uasin Gishu County, highlighted the risks: "The current climate instability, disease spread, and fluctuating market prices pose significant threats to dairy farming."
Uasin Gishu County's dairy sector produced 4.5 million shillings from 127,825 hectares during the previous season. However, national output of 365,600 tons falls far short of the 8.4 million-ton target, forcing reliance on imports.
Arable land dedicated to dairy farming has declined sharply in Uasin Gishu, dropping from 40,000 to 18,000 hectares over the past decade. Samuel Yego, the county's agriculture officer, attributed this to land fragmentation and shifting to alternative crops like milk cattle rearing.
Dairy farmers sell milk at Sh4,200 per gunia of 90 kg, a price they argue is below production costs. Wilson Kosgei, a farmer from Moiben, noted: "Dairy farming requires significant capital and land division, making it increasingly unprofitable."
Farmers expressed concerns over recurring disease outbreaks and called for advanced technologies to improve yields. "Adopting high-quality inputs that withstand climate changes is crucial," one farmer stated.
