Susan Wangeci is a 41-year-old mother of four girls who is embracing a different kind of farming in Kiambu.
For a long time, she was a conventional dairy farmer but when profits dipped, Wangeci adopted goat rearing and has managed to reap the benefits.
“I had been in dairy cattle farming for a long time but for the past five years, I have been trying goat farming. Profits from this new venture surpass what I was getting from cattle farming by far,” she said.
Wangeci is among a group of dairy farmers in Kiambu who have switched from cattle to a new cash cow – the dairy goat.
Farmers in Gatamaiyu area within the county have been trying their hands on dairy goat farming, which they say is much more profitable than cattle mainly the venture is less costly.
Benson Kinuthia is another small-scale farmer from Kamuchege village.
“I want to sell my four cows because I have found a new love in dairy goats. The goats are easier to feed and one earns more from them. We sell the milk in Nairobi but the demand is very high,” added Kinuthia.
He said that the demand for goat milk has surpassed supply and the few goat farmers cannot supply the milk to everyone. With a kilo of goat milk selling at Sh60 compared to Sh20 for cow milk, Kinuthia said he will soon switch completely to rearing dairy goats.
Already, the over 30 local people have registered the Kamuchege Dairy Goat self-help group to meet the demand and challenges ahead.