In the heart of Murang’a County, Kenya, lies the village of Pundamilia, where Edwin Njuguna has carved out a remarkable success story in the field of dairy farming.
At just 35 years old, Njuguna’s dedication and innovative approach have turned his small family farm into a thriving dairy business that benefits not only his family but also the local community.
Njuguna’s journey into agriculture began with pig farming, a venture driven by his entrepreneurial spirit.
However, it was the addition of dairy cattle to his family’s farming activities that marked a turning point in his agricultural career.
“The pigs were primarily for business,” Njuguna explained, reflecting on his early farming days.
He made a strategic move by investing in five dairy cattle, two of which were milk producers.
Little did he know that this decision would lead to a surplus of milk production far beyond his family’s consumption needs.
“One cow was producing an impressive 30 liters of milk daily, while the other contributed 10 liters, whereas my family only required three liters,” he notes.
To make the most of this surplus, Njuguna sought out a distributor in Nairobi, and within a month, the payments he received convinced him to take further steps in dairy farming.
Njuguna’s ability to crunch the numbers signaled a bright future in dairy farming, especially when compared to the challenges faced by the pig farming sector at that time, including rising costs of animal feed.
On his two-and-a-quarter-acre farm, Njuguna has constructed modern cowsheds.
These cowsheds, made from a combination of timber, iron sheets, and cement, have been a significant investment, totaling approximately Ksh 2.4 million.
They are divided according to the age and condition of the cattle and feature three milk milking stations and nine calf pens catering to calves aged from one day to three months.
Additionally, he keeps 22 other cattle that have yet to calve.
Njuguna’s project also includes a dedicated area for calving cows and a specialized section for treating cattle with various health issues.
The cowsheds are equipped with feeding troughs, a water supply system through trenches, and comfortable resting areas furnished with mattresses.
Njuguna’s diligent efforts have paid off, with his 22 dairy cattle yielding varying amounts of milk.
His lowest-producing cow yields 13 liters per day, while the highest can reach an impressive 50 liters.
“I sell my milk wholesale, and the price ranges from Ksh 42 to 50 per liter,” he shares, highlighting that Loyalty Dairies is his primary customer.
In addition to his dairy business, Njuguna has even secured overseas markets for his cattle, with Comoros among the foreign buyers.
However, like many livestock farmers, he faces the ongoing challenge of high feed costs.
To tackle this challenge, Njuguna has leased several farms to cultivate maize and other crops used to make silage, ensuring a steady and cost-effective source of animal feed.
He also cultivates sweet potatoes, recognizing the nutritional value of both the leaves and the tubers in enhancing milk production.
Furthermore, he has dedicated sections of his farm to growing special grass varieties such as Lucerne and mabingobingo grass, which he sources from local suppliers to supplement his cattle’s diet.
