More than 35,000 farmers from Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Embu counties are expected to take part in this year’s Meru Dairy Cooperative field day which focuses on youthful farmers.
This year’s annual farmers’ field day, on Saturday June 21, 2025, is the 10th since the milk processor started organizing the educational event. The Meru Dairy is popular for its Mt Kenya Milk brands.
About 100 top producing dairy cows from the region will be exhibited at the Meru Showground with youthful farmers being at the forefront of the show.
Meru Dairy Cooperative Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenneth Gitonga said the processor has put in place several incentives to attract the youth in dairy farming as it races towards processing up to 1 million liters in a day.
The Meru dairy milk processor, with about 70,000 farmers, has recorded a significant jump in daily amount of milk processed from 550,000 litres last year to 615,000 litres currently.
“During this year’s event, we are giving special attention to youthful dairy farmers who hold the future of this business. We have a 26 year old farmer who is currently earning a salary of Sh100, 000 from dairy farming. We urge the youth to turn out in big numbers to learn from the best,” Gitonga said.
The CEO said this year’s event has also attracted farmers from Rwanda, who will be coming to learn from Kenya’s top dairy cooperative.
As part of the union’s effort to enhance access to quality breeds, Gitonga said they are launching an online cow trading platform for farmers.
“For the first time, the farmers field day will feature the first dairy cow auction to launch our digital cow market platform. Farmers who are selling their cows will be sharing the details and the image of the cow for uploading in our website.”
“Buyers can then bid and pay Meru dairy. This will ease access to quality breeds and make it easier for our farmers to sell,” he said.
Gitonga said the union was ready to offer skills, funding and extension services to the youth keen on venturing into dairy farming.
Meru Dairy Cooperative Union chairman Simon Kiruja said the event is a great learning experience for farmers and those interested in the sector.
“I urge the young people, even those who have completed university to venture into dairy farming. This is a big employer and there is good money,” he said.
The dairy leadership said the construction of an animal feed mill at Mitunguu is on course and the facility is expected to be ready by the end of the year.
The animal feed mill is expected to cut the cost of production and increase access to quality feeds for members of the Meru Dairy Cooperative union.
