Kenya’s dairy sector is set for a major boost, with annual milk production projected to hit 3.4 billion liters by 2028 — a 53 percent increase from current levels — thanks to a series of strategic interventions by the Nourishing Prosperity Alliance: Forage for Animal Growth in East Africa (NPA-Forage).
NPA-Forage, a private sector consortium focused on transforming the dairy value chain, is working with 500,000 smallholder farmers managing a combined herd of 2 million cows.
The anticipated growth could generate an estimated Sh156 billion in additional revenue for the sector.
At the core of the initiative is the development of a commercially viable, self-sustaining market for nutrient-dense, climate-adapted forage.
These high-quality feeds are aimed at small-scale dairy farmers, who comprise 80 percent of Kenya’s dairy producers and supply more than half of the country’s milk.
"Poor animal nutrition is a key contributor to Kenya's annual milk supply deficit of 4.42 billion liters," said Brenda Rono, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager at NPA-Forage.“This equates to around Sh169 billion in unrealized revenue. By training farmers to grow and use climate-resilient forage, we are seeing a significant shift in both attitudes and practices.”
Since its inception in 2020, the NPA-Forage program has trained 5,500 commercially oriented smallholder farmers in forage cultivation and feed optimization.
Of those trained, 91 percent reported increased knowledge of forage nutrition and improved skills in creating balanced rations. Among farmers who adopted the techniques, 87 percent experienced higher milk yields — with average increases of 64 percent across different forage types.
Building on the success of its 2020–2023 pilot phase, NPA-Forage plans to scale up its efforts over the coming years.
"By establishing a reliable market for cost-effective, nutritious forage, we are targeting a 16 percent growth in milk production this year, 26 percent next year, and ultimately 53 percent by 2028," said Ian Mutua Muthama, Country Lead Technical Manager at NPA-Forage.He added that progress will be tracked using metrics such as milk yield per cow, farmer adoption rates of forage technologies, and the economic benefits accrued by both producers and forage sellers.
The initiative represents a significant step toward food security and economic resilience for Kenya’s dairy farming communities.
