This archive report was first published on 14 December 2019.
The young agriprenuer who revived collapsed milk firm ¶
Yala, a rural town in Siaya County, is known for its vibrant market days where farmers, traders, and buyers meet to sell and buy various produce. However, not far from the main town market, there is a small milk processing plant named Yala Milk Factory that has put a smile on farmers' faces.
The plant is operated by CowSoko, an online firm specializing in the sale of dairy cows, in partnership with New Yala Dairy Cooperative. The partnership was established last year after a new management team revived the two institutions, which had collapsed in 2013 due to mismanagement and political interference.
Victor Otieno, 31, the founder of CowSoko, is behind the revival of the two outfits. He is the factory director while James Randiki is chairman, New Yala Dairy Co-operative. The group shortlisted five firms and settled on CowSoko that 'had a model that was friendly to our dairy farmers,' Randiki explains.
The factory employs 18 people and processes 500 litres of milk daily. Inside the factory, all the machines that include pasteurises and coolers are in top form. 'We are working with 80 farmers from the dairy co-operative who actively supply milk. They now have a ready market. We process fresh milk, yoghurt, and male branded Yala,' says Otieno.
The milk arrives at the factory by 9am and goes through a series of tests. 'We test for alcohol and water to make sure the milk is not adulterated. This helps us know whether to accept or reject the milk,' says Otieno, adding that a litre of processed fresh milk goes for Sh70. For yoghurt, the tested milk is fed into the pasteurising machine and heated up to 40 degrees Celsius.
George Orony, a dairy farmer with three cows, supplies some 25 litres of milk to the plant daily. He makes about Sh30,000 a month. 'We have a ready market and we're paid on time. We also have a working extension programme that's good for farmers,' he says.
According to Randiki, many farmers in Nyanza are yet to embrace new dairy technologies to boost their milk output. 'A majority of farmers still keep the local Zebu breed, which offers little milk.'
Working with farmers has created new opportunities for CowSoko, says Otieno, with the app incorporated in the management of the dairy farms. 'CowSoko experts train farmers on aspects of modern dairy farming such as feeding, pest and disease control and artificial insemination. Already, a number of farmers have ordered dairy cows that will be delivered in January.'
