Empowering the next generation: The vital role of youth in the dairy industry

To address this, NEADAP is proactively engaging with AERES, DTC, Eldoret Polytechnic, Baraton university and Meru University in developing 'on-the-job training trajectories' to enhance skills and provide coaching at the beginning of a career in dairy farming or the dairy sector. Moreover, besides the on-the-job training for young professionals, NEADAP aims to explore ways to provide more extensive and better support to youth intending to take over family farms with dairy cattle.

To accomplish this, NEADAP is initiating three specific job profiles: a dairy farm owner/manager, an extension officer, and a manager of a milk collecting centre. These profiles will be developed through close collaboration with partners, combining e-learning with hands-on practical assignments and a series of interactive workshops. These workshops will enable trainees to exchange ideas, discuss, and reflect on technical and economic KPIs specific to their farms or collection centres while sharing valuable experiences and learnings.

Drawing on the successful work of the East African Regional Network of Excellence in Dairy Training (EARNED), NEADAP will collaborate closely with knowledge institutes in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, along with Practical Dairy Training Farms (PDTF). The blended learning platform of Delta Dairy Academy will serve as a valuable resource in this endeavour. Notably, during an identification mission, the Boards of various dairy Cooperative Unions in Kenya and Uganda enthusiastically welcomed this initiative, requesting the participation of their present staff members.

In addition to online training, the PDTFs in Uganda and centres of excellence like the one at the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology in Nakuru, Kenya, will play a crucial role in transferring practical knowledge to future generations of dairy farmers. The challenge here lies in delivering quality training to a large number of people at affordable prices.

For dairy farming to become an attractive career choice for young farmers, they need to witness its potential to generate a stable and appealing income. Role models demonstrating a successful and professional approach to dairy farming can play a significant role in changing the sector's image positively.

While the challenges faced by the new generation of dairy farmers may not be easy to tackle, it is essential for the sector's future to innovate and devise new ways of working to ensure their success. Only by doing so can we secure a prosperous and sustainable future for dairy farming.