The Kenyan government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has rolled out a new initiative that will see large-scale farmers leased public land to grow animal feed, in a move aimed at boosting dairy production across the country.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe made the announcement on Thursday, July 24, stating that the government plans to lease arable land to farmers who are ready to grow essential dairy feeds like fodder and sunflower.
These crops are vital ingredients in supporting healthy dairy farming and enhancing milk output.
Kagwe emphasized that this strategy is part of broader efforts by the government to tackle long-standing challenges in the dairy sector, including feed shortages, post-harvest losses, and the increasing impact of climate change.
“We need to implement practical and sustainable solutions that can transform the dairy industry.
To do this, we must come together to support the commercialization of pasture and fodder production so we can raise productivity and make dairy farming more efficient,” Kagwe said.
Boosting Dairy Productivity Through Land Leasing
According to the Agriculture CS, the plan involves leasing public land suitable for large-scale agriculture to farmers who will focus on cultivating feed crops such as sunflower and pasture grass.
These efforts aim to reduce the overall cost of dairy production and improve the consistency and quality of milk production in Kenya.
“The government’s goal is to make use of available arable land for growing key animal feed crops that can reduce production costs and improve dairy yields,” Kagwe explained.
Milk Cooler Distribution Across Counties
In addition to the land lease program, the Ministry of Agriculture has started distributing 230 milk coolers across 40 counties to support small- and medium-scale dairy farmers. So far, 15 milk coolers have been installed in Meru County and 8 in Nyeri County.
These coolers are being provided to help tackle one of the biggest problems farmers face: poor milk storage infrastructure. Often, milk goes bad before reaching the market, leading to major losses and lower earnings for farmers.
“Every year, the country loses around 6% of its marketed milk—roughly 175 million litres worth Ksh7.9 billion—due to post-harvest losses,” Kagwe stated.
He added that the coolers will help maintain milk freshness, improve its quality, and make it more competitive in the market, ultimately boosting farmers’ incomes.
“The milk coolers will expand the national chilling capacity by 475,000 litres per day and directly increase farmer earnings,” he noted.
More Reforms to Strengthen the Dairy Industry
CS Kagwe further pledged that the government will intensify livestock vaccination efforts to protect animals from diseases, and promote the use of sexed semen to produce better-quality cattle breeds.
He pointed out that these reforms are not only intended to improve the country’s milk production, but also to open up new employment opportunities, strengthen food security, and grow agricultural exports, which are key to economic stability.
“For Kenya to fully benefit from the dairy sector, we must deal with the core issues—such as low-quality animal breeds, poor feeding practices, livestock diseases, bad infrastructure, and climate change. Only by addressing these challenges can we unlock the full potential of our farmers,” Kagwe concluded.
The new plan reflects the government’s renewed commitment to empowering the agricultural sector and building a stronger, self-sufficient dairy industry for the future.
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