Brookside Rewards Kenyan Dairy Farmers with Sh255 Million Payout

Brookside, a prominent dairy processor, has distributed a total of Sh255 million to thousands of dairy farmers as an incentive for maintaining milk quality and meeting supply targets from December 1, 2025, to May 30, 2026. This payout serves as an extra reward for regular milk deliveries, aligning with the industry's emphasis on quality improvement.

The beneficiaries of this scheme include individual farmers, dairy cooperatives, and milk collection groups that have adhered to the agreed standards for milk quality and volume. Emmanuel Kabaki, Brookside's General Manager for milk procurement, stated that the reward scheme, now in its seventh year, aims to encourage farmers to invest in enhanced feed and farm sanitation. This initiative is designed to enhance farm profitability by reducing milk rejections.

Mr. Kabaki emphasized that the reward program seeks to cultivate a safer and more competitive dairy sector in the region, ensuring that consumers receive high-quality, nutritious dairy products. The scheme also aims to improve the operational efficiency of supply groups such as dairy co-operatives, thereby increasing their yields from raw milk sales.

The trend of linking farmer earnings to quality indicators, such as protein and butterfat content, rather than solely on milk quantity, is gaining traction in the dairy sector. This approach is believed to reduce milk rejection rates and bolster the competitiveness of Kenyan dairy products in both local and export markets.

The incentive program encourages farmers to adopt better feeding practices, improve animal health, and maintain higher standards of hygiene during milk production and handling. This payout comes at a crucial time as dairy farmers prepare for the dry season, a period often marked by lower milk production due to scarce pasture and rising feed costs.

The Kenyan dairy sector has increasingly focused on improving milk quality in response to the growing demand for processed dairy products and stricter quality requirements from processors. To support this transition, processors and industry stakeholders have expanded training programs for farmers on animal husbandry, milk handling, and feed management.