Policy Brief No. 17 of 2021-2022 on Tapping the Dairy Industry’s Potential to Create Jobs for the Youth in Kenya

Abstract

With the bulging unemployment of youth in Kenya, where about 85% are unemployed, the Kenya Vision 2030 recognizes the dairy industry as one of the fundamental industries in generating employment activities especially for the youth. Despite argument that the agriculture sector and particularly dairy industry is not impressive for the youth, the current dynamics in the industry hold a promise of a sector that will alleviate youth unemployment challenges in Kenya. Technology and internet are opening opportunities for the industry through the new ways of processing and marketing milk and milk products. Estimates from the Food and Agriculture Organization in 2011 indicated that the dairy industry has the capability to generate about 76 jobs for every 1000 litres of milk sold in the country. This figure has supposedly not taken into consideration the recent technological developments such as the Milk Vending Machine Retail Innovation in urban areas in Kenya. The exponential growth of milk dispensing machines has stimulated business and employment opportunities for the youth and boosted the consumption share of milk especially for the low- and middle-income earners