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Dairy farmers in Makueni County are receiving targeted financial support to sustain milk production during a prolonged dry spell that has strained livestock feeding resources following failed October–November–December rains.
Kalawa Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society Ltd received a KSh 850,000 Drought Mitigation Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) on Monday under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), a government‑backed initiative aimed at strengthening agricultural resilience and boosting value chains. The grant was officiated by Livestock Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza in a ceremony attended by cooperative leaders and county agricultural officials.
The funding arrives at a critical moment for dairy producers in Makueni, where pasture scarcity and rising feed costs threaten herd productivity and household incomes. With natural grazing declining amid the dry season, farmers face the risk of reduced milk yields and, in some cases, having to sell livestock prematurely at unfavourable prices.
The KSh 850,000 allocation will be used by the cooperative to bulk purchase high‑quality animal feeds and supplements, such as hay, silage, dairy meal and other nutritional inputs. By procuring feed in bulk, Kalawa aims to secure better prices and ensure that members’ herds remain well‑nourished throughout the dry months and into the onset of the next rainy season.
In his remarks during the handover, Kiminza emphasised that the intervention is designed to stabilise milk production, protect livestock nutrition, and safeguard farmer incomes during climatic stress. He urged the cooperative to adhere strictly to grant guidelines, maintain accurate financial records, and ensure full accountability for all expenditures under the programme.
The NAVCDP Enterprise Development Grant is structured to be complementary to farmer contributions and county implementation support.
Beneficiary groups are expected to demonstrate capacity for transparent management and effective use of funds, a requirement that promotes ownership and sustainability of the intervention beyond the immediate drought response.
Kalawa Dairy Farmers Cooperative has grown steadily in recent years, aggregating milk from members to secure better market access and improve farm‑gate prices.
The infusion of grant support is expected to help keep milk flowing to processors and local buyers, shielding farmers from the steep production declines often associated with dry spells.
Analysts say that proactive drought‑response support like this is vital for Kenya’s dairy sector, which is a major source of rural employment and household income nationwide.
Access to quality feed and resilience financing helps maintain milk yields, supports animal health and reproductive performance, and prevents distress sales of breeding stock, which can have long‑term negative effects on herd quality and future production.
The grant to Kalawa is part of broader efforts in Makueni, where several dairy cooperatives have received similar allocations under NAVCDP to purchase feeds and veterinary inputs, aiming to cushion farmers against the driest months of the year.
For Kalawa members, the immediate priority is using the funds efficiently to ensure dairy cows remain productive during the dry season.
In the longer term, cooperative leaders hope that strengthened resilience and improved feeding strategies will contribute to sustained milk production and better economic outcomes for member households.
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