Why Raw Milk Markets May Be Good for Kenya

Even as its survival continues to be threatened, the informal dairy sector in Kenya remains one of the most dynamic sectors in the stagnating economy, creating more jobs than the formal dairy sector. Also, new research with the potential of demystifying the myth that milk sold through informal channels poses public health risks, has recommended that the government recognise the existence of the informal sector and licence the players.

According to the findings of a survey carried out by ILRI's Market-oriented Smallholder Dairy Project and FAO's Animal Production and Health Division, the dominant raw milk market currently employs thousands of Kenyans. About 55% of all milk marketed by some 600,000 small-scale farmers is actually sold directly by farmers to neighbouring consumers and institutions. Raw milk traders are estimated to handle about one-third of the total marketed milk, with only 8% sold directly to processors.

Issues of public health in the informal milk markets are covered in another report which shows that up to 96% of households in Kenya boil milk prior to its consumption, thereby making it safe. As with pasteurisation, all harmful bacteria are killed in the process of boiling. The report acknowledges that although there is some degree of adulteration of milk supplied through the informal channels, through addition of water, there was no obvious link between milk quality and the type of market agent, and there may not be serious harmful effects in the milk that eventually reaches the consumers.

A major health risk that was identified was the large number (up to 15%) of both pasteurised and raw milk samples that contained antibiotic residues. The negative implications of this are that over time, there is the possibility of the development of drug resistance, and that the common, cheap antibiotics that we use to treat various ailments will no longer be effective, which may mean resorting to new and more expensive antibiotics for treatment. This is a scenario that should certainly be avoided, especially for a poor country such as Kenya. Again training is required, particularly of dairy farmers and veterinary assistants and drug suppliers.