Brookside has rewarded thousands of dairy farmers with a total of Ksh 255 million for maintaining high milk quality standards and ensuring a steady milk supply over the last six months.
The bonus payments, issued under the processor’s farmer incentive programme, were earned by suppliers who met set targets on both milk quality and delivery volumes between December 2025 and May 2026.
The move highlights the growing importance of quality in Kenya’s dairy industry, where processors are increasingly encouraging farmers to go beyond production and focus on the condition of the milk they deliver.
For many farmers, the payout represents more than just an extra source of income. It is a reward for investing in better feeding programmes, cleaner milking environments and improved animal care, practices that often require additional resources but ultimately result in higher-quality milk.
Brookside said individual farmers, dairy cooperatives and milk collection centres were among those that benefited from the latest round of payments.
According to the company, the programme has helped drive improvements across its supply chain by encouraging suppliers to adopt practices that reduce contamination and improve milk quality from the farm level.
Brookside General Manager for Milk Procurement, Emmanuel Kabaki, said the initiative is helping to create value for both farmers and consumers.
“Our reward scheme works towards a safer, more competitive dairy sector for the region, while ensuring that our consumers continue to get high-quality, more nutritious dairy products,” he said.
Kabaki noted that the programme is also helping dairy cooperatives strengthen their operations and improve returns from milk sales.
The latest payout comes as the dairy industry continues to undergo significant transformation. In recent years, processors have invested heavily in farmer education programmes aimed at improving milk production, animal health and handling practices.
Experts say the shift towards quality-based rewards is helping address one of the sector’s long-standing challenges: milk losses caused by poor handling and storage. When milk fails to meet processor standards, farmers risk having deliveries rejected, leading to financial losses.
By rewarding quality, processors are encouraging farmers to pay closer attention to hygiene during milking, proper cooling and storage, as well as livestock nutrition. These measures not only improve the quality of milk but also increase productivity at the farm level.
Kenya remains East Africa’s leading milk producer, with the dairy sector contributing significantly to food security and rural incomes. Smallholder farmers dominate production, supplying the majority of milk processed by companies across the country.
Despite its strong performance, the sector faces pressure from rising production costs, especially the cost of animal feeds, which have remained a major concern for farmers. Climate-related challenges have also affected pasture availability in some regions, forcing farmers to spend more on supplementary feeding.
Against this backdrop, incentive programmes such as Brookside’s are increasingly being viewed as an important tool for supporting farmers while raising industry standards.
As demand for processed dairy products continues to grow, industry stakeholders believe quality will remain at the centre of future growth, with farmers who consistently meet higher standards likely to enjoy better returns and stronger market opportunities.
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