Abstract:
Milk forms a key dietary component in pastoral areas of Kenya whose dwellers are faced with limited
dietary options. The goal of this study was to map milk value chains from pastoral and agro-pastoral
areas and identify constraints and existing vulnerabilities that hampers their upgrading in Narok
County, Kenya. A cross-sectional study was done between March and July 2019, and data was collected
through 9 focus group discussions comprising 134 pastoralists and 4 key informant interviews using a
questionnaire guide. Data was collected on chain profiles, governance, existing constraints, and
vulnerabilities. The chain analysis revealed that the key actors were input suppliers; pastoral and
agropastoral producers; wholesalers; cooperatives; private and public processers; retailers and
consumers. Most of the milk was produced by small holder farmers for household consumption and
only sold the surplus. Average daily milk yield was 15 liters, 7 liters and 4 liters per cow intensive,
semi-intensive and extensive systems respectively. Milk pricing was determined by local brokers and
processors who were the dominant buyers of the milk. Value addition to the milk was limited to ghee
production, souring. One bulking center produced yoghurt while other bulking centers and retailers
sold the milk either raw or boiled. The major constraints reported in the production of milk were water
and feed scarcity; low production; poor milk pricing and unreliable veterinary services. The results
further revealed existence of both formal and informal milk value chains. The informal chain was
dominated by small-scale producers with minimal inputs and low levels of outputs. The producers had
no influence on price setting and faced challenges in marketing milk. Interrelationships between the
actors, was based on verbal agreements with no binding contracts. This study revealed existing
deficiencies in input supply and vulnerabilities which may result in contamination of milk along the
chain nodes.
Keywords: Agro-pastoralists; Chain actors; Dairy value chains; Narok County; pastoralists; vulnerabilities
