Heifer International launches TYFFAD project to address Kenya’s feed and fodder crisis

KENYA – Heifer International Kenya has launched a four-year dairy feed initiative targeting more than 50,000 smallholder farmers, as the country grapples with a structural feed deficit estimated at 55 million tonnes and post-harvest losses of up to 46% that continue to constrain milk productivity.

The project, Transforming Yield through Feed and Fodder Access in Dairy (TYFFAD), will be implemented across key dairy-producing counties, including Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans Nzoia, Laikipia, Nakuru, Kiambu and Narok. 

It aims to improve fodder production, conservation and market access while building more efficient, year-round feed supply systems.

Kenya’s dairy sector supports more than 1.8 million smallholder households and contributes about 4.5% of national GDP, 14% of agricultural GDP and 44% of livestock GDP. 

However, productivity remains below potential, with average milk yields of approximately 7.5 litres per cow per day, largely due to persistent feed and fodder constraints.

“The majority of milk is produced by smallholder farmers operating at low levels of productivity. The root cause is the lack of adequate and quality feed,” said Midina Yattani, speaking on behalf of the Principal Secretary in the State Department of Livestock Development. 

“Addressing this gap is essential to improving farmer incomes, strengthening resilience and unlocking the full potential of the dairy sector.”

The government is advancing several measures to support the sector, including the development of a Livestock Bill, the establishment of a multi-stakeholder platform for feed coordination and increased investment in research through the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) to improve access to quality, climate-resilient fodder varieties.

Market volatility exposes feed system gaps

Across dairy-producing regions, seasonal imbalances continue to disrupt feed availability and pricing. 

During periods of surplus, farmers often sell fodder immediately due to limited storage capacity, with hay prices falling to between KSh 100 and 150 per bale. 

In contrast, prices can rise to between KSh 300 and 500 during dry seasons, increasing production costs and affecting profitability.

“Farmers are often forced to sell immediately after harvest because they lack storage. Yet during the dry season, they must buy feed at much higher prices,” said Waweru Nyangi, a fodder producer in Nakuru County.

TYFFAD seeks to address these inefficiencies by promoting improved forage production practices, strengthening conservation methods such as silage and haymaking and enhancing linkages between producers and markets. 

The initiative also aims to expand access to mechanisation, improve the availability of quality inputs and explore financing models better suited to smallholder farmers.

“For many farmers, the challenge is not effort; it is access; access to quality feed, reliable systems and functioning markets,” said Wairimu Munyinyi-Wahome, Country Director at Heifer International Kenya. 

“Fodder is abundant during the rainy season but not well conserved, and then becomes scarce when demand remains high, directly affecting productivity and costs.”

The project adopts a market systems approach, bringing together national and county governments, private sector players, cooperatives and research institutions, including the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and KALRO, to improve coordination across the value chain.

A key component of the initiative is the inclusion of women and youth, who play a significant role in Kenya’s dairy sector but often face barriers in accessing land, finance and markets. 

By integrating these groups into more structured feed and fodder systems, the project aims to enhance productivity while supporting income growth at the farm level.

Kenya’s dairy sector supports more than 1.8 million smallholder households and contributes 4.5 per cent of national GDP, 14 per cent of agricultural GDP, and 44 per cent of livestock GDP.

TYFFAD is expected to reduce seasonal shortages, stabilise input costs and improve overall efficiency in the dairy value chain. 

Its success will depend on the extent to which improved practices can be scaled into sustainable, market-driven systems that support long-term growth in Kenya’s dairy industry.

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