Integrating informal actors into the formal dairy industry in Kenya through training and certification

Omore, A. and Baker, D. 2011. Integrating informal actors into the formal dairy industry in Kenya through training and certification. In: International Livestock Research Institute. Towards priority actions for market development for African farmers. Proceedings of an international conference, Nairobi, Kenya, 13-15 May 2009. Nairobi: AGRA and ILRI: 281-291.

This paper reviews current thinking on the role of informal agribusiness in pro-poor development, and reports on the example of a recent dairy development project (the Smallholder Dairy Project) in Kenya. The project featured collaborative and participatory research, along with training and certification in milk handling practices as a practical mechanism optimizing milk quality and addressing regulatory barriers. It also targeted and helped achieve policy change, which enabled wider piloting of the training and certification activities incorporating a business development service approach by national authorities. Substantial welfare gains were achieved, as demonstrated in a recent impact assessment reviewed in the current paper. Current extensions of the project are described, and subsequent work outlined. Coherence with received wisdom is discussed along with future research topics.