The Role of Youth in Ensuring Milk Quality: A Case Study of Mumberes and Sabatia Cooperatives in Baringo County

Sabatia and Mumberes Cooperatives: A Snapshot

Sabatia FCS, one of Kenya’s oldest cooperatives in the dairy sector, focuses on overcoming the many challenges farmers face, including input supply and access to markets. With a daily aggregation of 11,000 litres of milk, of which 1,500 litres are processed into yoghurt and mursik (traditional fermented milk), Sabatia is a cornerstone of dairy production in Baringo.

On the other hand, Mumberes Cooperative, with its 3,000 members, has also seen remarkable growth. In just six months—from June 2023 to January 2024—the cooperative increased its daily milk collection from 11,131 kg to 16,000 kg. In addition to this the cooperative processes 2000 liters of milk into yoghurt and fermented milk. This impressive expansion coincided with the introduction of a new quality-based payment system by BioFoods. Instead of paying solely by quantity, farmers are now rewarded for the quality of their milk, with factors like bacterial count, milk solids, fat content, and frothing capacity being taken into account. This has significantly boosted farmer earnings, with per-kilogram payments rising from KES 31.5 in January 2024 to over KES 40 by October—a 30% increase.

The Challenge of Maintaining Milk Quality

Despite these gains, maintaining milk quality from the farm gate to the processing plant remains a significant challenge. The logistics of transporting milk over long distances in the absence of refrigerated vehicles can result in spoilage, microbial growth, and lower milk quality. Moreover, the quality of raw milk depends heavily on farming practices, hygiene standards, and handling processes. Issues such as insufficient access to clean water, improper container sanitation, and the use of plastic containers prone to biofilm formation contribute to milk contamination. Ensuring high milk quality becomes even more complex when multiple stakeholders are involved, each with varying levels of expertise and awareness of the risks.

Youth: The Game-Changers in Dairy Logistics

In an innovative response to these challenges, both Sabatia and Mumberes Cooperatives have tapped into the potential of local youths to improve milk transportation. These young individuals, often armed with motorbikes and tricycles, have become essential players in the daily operations of the cooperatives reaching out to farmers with the most challenging infrastructure like poor roads and ensuring that their milk is collected. They are contracted to collect milk from various aggregation centres, they ensure that milk is delivered to the cooperatives within two hours of collection.

This system has significantly reduced the risk of spoilage, as milk is transported during the cooler parts of the day, helping to preserve its quality. The quick turnaround has also led to fewer instances of milk adulteration. Beyond their role in logistics, these youths have emerged as key contributors to the dairy value chain, showcasing the diverse opportunities available to young people in the dairy sector beyond farming itself.

Youth Empowerment through Dairy Logistics

The involvement of youth in milk transportation not only benefits the cooperatives but also provides much-needed employment opportunities in the community. By engaging in this critical role, these young individuals are helping to secure the future of the dairy industry in Baringo County. Their contributions ensure that smallholder farmers can maximize their earnings by delivering higher-quality milk, while also addressing the logistical challenges that have long plagued the sector. In addition to milk transportation services, the youths provide the most required labour in fodder conservation specifically during the preparation of silage where after chopping they support farmers in making silage thereby supporting the production of quality feed for cows which also contributes to milk quality by reducing incidences of aflatoxin in silage that also compromises milk quality.

In conclusion, the success stories of Sabatia and Mumberes Cooperatives underscore the vital role that youth can play in the dairy industry, particularly in logistics and quality control. By leveraging the energy, mobility, and entrepreneurial spirit of local youth, these cooperatives have created a more efficient and quality-driven dairy supply chain. This innovative model not only boosts milk quality and farmer income but also offers a promising pathway for youth empowerment in rural Kenya.