Dairy farming and community impact in Kenya

In Western Kenya, Moo & More Dairy Farm is building a stronger and more professional dairy ecosystem . With support from PUM expert Wytze Heida, the farm is improving herd management while expanding its role as a practical training centre for local farmers and students. The collaboration connects technical expertise with local partnerships to strengthen dairy production and knowledge in the region.

Moo & More Dairy Farm (M&M), located in Busia near the Ugandan border, is a family-owned farm with 40 dairy cows. Led by entrepreneur Susan Njuguna, the farm combines commercial dairy production with training activities for farmers and students in the region. The farm produces fresh milk and processes part of it into yoghurt and mala (fermented milk).

In addition to production, the farm plays an important role in the local dairy sector. Around 25 smallholder farmers in the surrounding area deliver their milk to M&M, creating a reliable market for local producers. At the same time, the farm serves as a demonstration and training site for farmers and students who want to learn more about modern dairy management. The company is also closely connected to the community. It provides employment opportunities, supports youth and women’s initiatives and regularly hosts students from agricultural colleges for internships. With the demand for fresh dairy products rising in Western Kenya, M&M aims to further professionalise its operations while sharing knowledge with other farmers in the region.

Improving farm management and productivity

To support this ambition, PUM expert Wytze Heida travelled from Friesland to Busia to work with the owners and the dairy team. During the project, the focus was on strengthening dairy farm management and improving productivity through better feeding, cow comfort and herd management. As Wytze explains: “I worked with the owners, focusing on continuous improvement and careful observation of ‘cow signals’ as a basis for herd health and productivity.” These principles allow farmers to understand how cows respond to their environment, feed and housing conditions. By observing the signals, farmers can make practical improvements that directly influence milk production and animal health.

The visit also attracted wider attention. The national news broadcaster KBC covered part of the training activities, while representatives from the Kenya Dairy Board and the Busia County Livestock Department attended several sessions.

Strengthening knowledge in the wider dairy  network

The project extended beyond the M&M farm itself. With many years of experience in East Africa, including previous work with SNV, Wytze approached the assignment from a broader ecosystem perspective. Together with the owners, he visited and advised neighboring farmers, reviewed the availability and quality of feed, and connected the farm to local specialists in feed calculation and ration balancing (Rumen8).

Training and knowledge sharing formed an important part of the project. M&M hosts students for internships every three months, and Wytze engaged them in discussions about key practical skills needed in their future careers: “It became clear that there is room to strengthen the alignment between agricultural training and day-to-day farm realities. Together with the dairy team, we will explore how PUM Kenya can support concrete follow-up in this area.”

Building a practical training centre for the future

The project confirmed the potential of M&M to become a regional training hub for dairy farming. At the same time, the company continues to grow. The workforce expanded from 10 full-time employees in 2024 to 16 in 2025, alongside dozens of part-time workers during harvest and silage preparation. As production increases and milk collection from neighbouring farmers grows, M&M strengthens both its business model and its impact on the local economy.

Through continued collaboration within the dairy ecosystem including local institutions, government partners and PUM Kenya, the farm aims to further develop its role as a practical dairy training farm where farmers can learn by doing. As Wyte concludes: “This project serves as a solid example of combining technical expertise with local partnerships to strengthen the dairy sector in a practical manner.”