An investigation into the impact of technology on small scale milk processing: a case study of Thika District

Abstract

Milk is the unchanged lacteal secretion practically free from colostrums got by milking one or more cows after fixed and regular milking intervals. Milk from other animals must be specified as such. E.g. camel milk, goat milk etc. In Kenya we mainly produce cow milk. Over the years, the giant, Kenya Co-operative Creameries, has been enjoying monopoly of milk processing in the country. After the industry was liberalized other players came in e.g. Brookside, Spin Knit, Limuru etc. Most of these have grown overtime and are no longer small enterprises because of their volume of production and the number of employees engaged. In the Diary industry there are many small enterprises that are involved in the business of value addition of the commodity. This is done by; Processing of raw milk into products that are more stable. Delivery of the commodity to areas where there is no production but there is high demand. These processors range from raw milk hawkers to operators of milk bars. These have variously been referred to as 'illegal milk hawkers' and therefore the government's dairy sector regulatory body, the Kenya Dairy Board, has been in arms against them. The environment in which they operate can be broken into various elements namely; Technological environment Ecological environment Political legal environment Economic environment Socio-cultural environment In this research the impact of technology on small scale milk processing was examined. The research was based in Thika district as it has many milk producers and processors.