Members of the board of Alongside Hope joined ECLOF in Kenya for a field visit to the Kawanjara region, Embu County. The visit aimed to evaluate progress on climate-smart agriculture initiatives for inclusive and resilient dairy farming which have been implemented under the Alongside Hope-ECLOF partnership.
A day earlier, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya. The meeting reinforced shared commitment to collaborative rural transformation through climate-smart agriculture.
Supported by Alongside Hope, ECLOF in Kenya has been piloting dairy innovations with local cooperatives—such as hygienic sheds, zero-grazing, diverse fodder, and biogas systems. These climate-smart practices boost farmers productivity and well-being.
With Kawanjara Dairy Cooperative Society, the Canadian guests met a standout example: founded in 2016 and formalized in 2019, the Cooperative has become a key training and income generation hub for farmers in Embu County. During the field visit, delegates witnessed these innovations firsthand at Kawanjara’s demo farm.
The cooperative’s impact speaks volumes: membership grew from 30 to over 600 farmers (and targeting 3000), daily milk yields rose from 5 to 8 liters, and farmers gained new skills through peer exchanges and training focused on feed systems, breed selection, and disease control.
The smallholder dairy farmers shared ongoing challenges: high infrastructure cost, limited veterinary access, fodder shortages, weak digital systems, and price instability during oversupply. In response, ECLOF outlined its strategic actions: scaling up demo farms, expanding training opportunities, investing in technology and equipment, and replicating biogas systems.
The visit underscored both the progress made and the transformative potential of integrated dairy development, driven by innovation, strong local cooperatives, and commitment from dairy farmers. It also reflected the strength of enduring partnerships between Alongside Hope, ECLOF, and the local community in shaping a more sustainable future.
About Alongside Hope: formerly called The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, it is the Anglican Church of Canada’s agency for sustainable development and relief.
