Rising Milk Demand Pulls Farmers to Goat-Rearing - Middle East North Africa Financial Network

The medicinal value associated with goat milk is making it one of the most lucrative ventures in Githunguri, Kiambu. The milk is recommended by doctors for some patients.

Because of lack of adequate land to keep big animals, a section of farmers have started keeping the animals, which they say are less expensive to maintain compared to cows.

Mr Edward Muchai from Gathanji village has seven dairy goats and he says the animals are more profitable.

He started rearing three goats in 2009 which produced 15 litres of milk a day. Mr Muchai sold the milk to a local self-help group that owns a small processing plant.

The factory based in Githunguri town processes goat yoghurt, which is sold to hospitals and supermarkets.

Goats are profitable

A litre of goat milk in the area goes for Sh60. "Goats are very profitable. You don't require big capital to rear them, their milk fetches more, and a goat gives birth twice a year, meaning that you can be selling milk through-out the year," said Mr Muchai.

According to the farmer, six goats equal a cow in terms of expenses.

Because of the high demand for goat milk by hotels, supermarkets, and hospitals, a number of farmers in the area have decided to start adding value to the milk.

Mr William Njenga, a director at Togen Goat Milk Limited, a goat yoghurt processing plant, said the factory received low quantities of milk because most farmers have only recently learnt about the animals.

He said the company has entered into an agreement with the Mini Saving and Credit microfinance, where farmers interested in goat-keeping get a loan of Sh20,000. He said about 100 farmers have ventured into the project, although most are flouting an agreement to deliver their milk to Togen Goat Milk Limited.

"Due to the value of the milk, most farmers are consuming a big percentage and we end up lacking milk to process," he said.

Mr Njenga said the situation has affected their plant, which is operating at a capacity of 100 litres. The number of goats in the area can produce over 1,000 litres a day.

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