In the heart of Eldoret, one farmer ditches maize farming and looks to goat milk business to earn a living

However, in the outskirts of Eldoret in Langas area, one farmer has decided to go down a path less travelled and take up dairy goats of goats, an undertaking which Simon Kinuthia says is paying off and paying returns good enough to depend on for a livelihood.

Kinuthia said, “I decided to start dairy goat farming seven years ago after looking for possible farming ideas that could be done on my small piece of land where I live. I realized maize farming would not be sustainable due to the size of my land, but goat farming was manageable.”

He said the costs involved in goat farming are also low, adding he milks up to 10 liters a day and sells one liter for more than Ksh. 150.

“Goat farming has been beneficial to my family as I am able to sustain them from the profits I get,” Kinuthia said.

However, not everything is rosy when it comes to goat farming.

Kinuthia cites diseases and infections which affect goats which need to be managed expeditiously, otherwise a farmer will be left counting losses. 

Another challenge involved with goat farming is the high cost of animal feed leads and the costs that come with rearing goats. Kinuthia said stakeholders should come together to lobby for the price of animal feeds to be reduced.

On the outlook of the sector, he said the market has been receptive to goat milk, adding that some of his neighbors have been loyal customers.

Kinuthia said some of the advantages of goat milk include the health benefits derived from it, including anti-inflammatory effects which have been shown to be derived from goat milk proteins.