Kenya Is Wasting Milk as IGAD Moves to Fix Broken Food Systems in Member States

Kenya is losing millions of litres of milk annually due to inefficiencies in production, storage, processing, and market access, even as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) intensifies efforts to address broken food systems across its member states.

The situation highlights a troubling paradox: while milk wastage remains high, many households across the region continue to face food insecurity, malnutrition, and rising food prices.

The Scale of Milk Wastage in Kenya

Kenya is one of Africa’s leading milk producers, with the dairy sector supporting millions of smallholder farmers and contributing significantly to the national economy. However, a large proportion of milk produced by farmers never reaches consumers.Poor cold storage infrastructure, inadequate transport systems, post-harvest losses, and fluctuating market prices have left farmers with surplus milk they cannot sell. In many cases, milk goes bad before it can be processed or delivered to markets, forcing farmers to pour it away or sell it at throwaway prices.Experts note that milk wastage is most common during peak production seasons when supply overwhelms available processing capacity.

Small-Scale Farmers Bear the Brunt

Smallholder farmers are the hardest hit by the losses. Many lack access to cooling facilities, cooperatives, or reliable buyers. When processors delay payments or reduce intake, farmers are left with little choice but to discard milk.The losses translate into reduced incomes, discouragement among dairy farmers, and a weakened rural economy. For households that rely solely on dairy farming, milk wastage directly affects food security, education, and healthcare affordability.

IGAD Steps In to Address Broken Food Systems

In response to widespread food system inefficiencies across the Horn of Africa, IGAD has launched initiatives aimed at strengthening agricultural value chains, reducing food loss, and improving regional food security.

The regional bloc is focusing on improving coordination among member states, investing in climate-resilient agriculture, and enhancing post-harvest handling and storage systems. Dairy, grains, and livestock are among the priority sectors targeted for reform.IGAD officials have stressed that food losses such as milk wastage are not merely agricultural problems but systemic failures involving policy gaps, infrastructure deficits, and weak market linkages

Linking Food Waste to Food Insecurity

The milk wastage crisis underscores a wider contradiction within Kenya and the region: food is being wasted even as millions struggle with hunger and malnutrition.Nutrition experts argue that milk, a key source of protein and essential nutrients, could play a major role in improving child nutrition if losses were minimized and distribution improved.By fixing food systems, IGAD aims to ensure that food produced reaches consumers efficiently, affordably, and safely.

Proposed Solutions and Reforms

IGAD’s approach includes promoting regional trade to allow surplus food from one area to be sold in deficit regions, investing in cold-chain infrastructure, and supporting farmer cooperatives.Other proposed interventions include encouraging value addition such as milk processing into powder, cheese, and long-life products, as well as strengthening farmer education on post-harvest handling.Digital platforms linking farmers directly to markets and processors are also being explored as a way to reduce losses and improve transparency.

The Role of Government and the Private Sector

While IGAD provides a regional framework, experts say national governments must play a stronger role by investing in infrastructure, stabilising dairy prices, and protecting farmers from exploitation.The private sector, particularly dairy processors and logistics companies, is expected to partner with governments and development agencies to expand processing capacity and cold storage networks.Without coordinated action, analysts warn that milk wastage will continue to undermine food security efforts.

A Wake-Up Call for Kenya’s Food System

Kenya’s milk wastage problem is increasingly being viewed as a symbol of deeper structural challenges in the country’s food system. Addressing it requires more than short-term solutions; it demands long-term investment, policy reform, and regional cooperation.As IGAD pushes for stronger, more resilient food systems across member states, Kenya’s dairy sector stands at a crossroads — either continue losing valuable produce or transform inefficiencies into opportunities for growth and food security.

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Eunice Awino Awino

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