Agri-contracting services: Successful training for contractors in Eldoret, Kenya

The dairy industry in East Africa is transforming as it shifts from an extensive grazing system to a more intensive zero-grazing and semi-zero-grazing approach. The reason for this change is the decreasing size of available land, along with a rise in demand for milk and dairy products and the need to conserve feed for the dry season. Silage is a crucial component of a zero or semi-zero-grazing system, but the machinery and cost required to produce it are often too high for small-scale farmers. As a result, agri-contractors who process maize into silage are necessary. Bles Dairies East Africa (BDEA), a partner of NEADAP, has researched the silage process, the cost involved, and how to maximize the nutritional value of silage. Bles Dairies is currently documenting business models for agricontracting services.

In collaboration with NEADAP, Bles Dairies conducted a week-long training program in Eldoret, Kenya. The program aimed to provide contracting services training to seven participants from East Africa, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to offer services for harvesting maize and preparing silage pits. The program attracted large-scale dairy farmers with machinery investments and small-scale feedstore owners specializing in baled-silage production.

The program included visits to ongoing maize harvesting activities, assessment of maize pits at various farms, and visits to dealers of different agro-machinery. In addition, participants received classes on cow nutrition, silage quality, silage pit preparation, staffing, procurement, maintenance, and cost-price calculation.

The program also highlighted the critical role of feed requirements for cows and how it could make the feed available to farmers and contractors profitably. The training gave participants new insights and skills, allowing them to establish or expand their contracting services in their respective countries. Bles Dairies East Africa, in a joint venture with Nundoroto Contractors, provides contracting services in the western region of Kenya and has harvested approximately 3000 acres of maize this year.

Setting up Agri-contracting services

NEADAP and Bles are collaborating to promote similar agri-contracting services to Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia, where such services are currently scarce. The collaboration aims to train and support entrepreneurs and their key staff in setting up agri-contracting services for the dairy sector.

Bles Dairies’ long-term ambition is to make contracting services available in all major milk sheds across East Africa. The contracting services will focus on maize growing and ensilaging, which will help dairy farmers to achieve sustainable forage production and animal feeding.