Airtea Project Innovation Platform Meeting
By Admin
Date: October 6, 2022
On October 6, 2022, the County Executive Committee (CEC) for Trade, Tourism and Cooperative Development, Nyeri County, Diana Kendi, officiated the opening of an innovation platform project dubbed Strengthening Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Ecosystem for Inclusive Rural Transformation and Livelihoods in Eastern Africa (AIRTEA). The platform is designed to leverage knowledge, innovation, and stakeholder partnerships to boost agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.
The two-day innovation platform meeting is being held at the White Rhino Hotel in Nyeri and brings together stakeholders in the dairy industry, including cooperative societies, government agencies, research institutions, and private sector players.
During his speech, CAK CEO Mr. Daniel Marube emphasized that dairy farming is one of Kenya’s most lucrative agricultural activities. Kenya is renowned as one of Africa's largest milk producers, contributing between 30–40% of the continent’s total production, which accounts for 5% of global milk output.
He highlighted that the sector has enormous potential for income generation, value addition, and job creation, especially for smallholder farmers. Dairy farming is a priority value chain for Nyeri County, under the leadership of Governor Mutahi Kahiga, who has championed initiatives to support farmers through infrastructure and financial assistance.
The Nyeri County government has taken several measures to enhance value addition in the dairy sector. Notably, the county procured 23 coolers and one milk pasteurizer to support farmers and cooperative societies. These investments are intended to improve milk preservation, processing, and marketability, ultimately increasing incomes for farmers.
Additionally, the county government has pledged to support dairy farmers and agribusinesses in accessing affordable credit facilities through injections of funds into local cooperative societies. To date, several cooperatives have benefited from this support, including:
The AIRTEA project is coordinated by the Co-operative Alliance of Kenya (CAK), the national apex organization representing over 24,000 cooperatives with more than 14 million members. CAK represents a diverse range of cooperatives, including financial, agricultural production, manufacturing, insurance, housing, and transport sectors.
CAK’s involvement ensures that the project aligns with national cooperative development strategies, provides technical guidance, and fosters collaboration among stakeholders for the benefit of smallholder farmers.
The AIRTEA project is funded by the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) through the ACP Innovation Fund, supported by the European Union. This third-party initiative leverages multi-stakeholder partnerships to enhance rural livelihoods, particularly for women and youth in the dairy sector.
Through collaboration with research institutions, government agencies, private sector actors, and cooperative societies, AIRTEA aims to create a functional innovation ecosystem that supports sustainable agricultural development.
The project targets 15,000 smallholder and family women farmers and 5,000 youth across six cooperative societies in four counties. Beneficiary cooperatives include:
By focusing on women and youth, the project seeks to promote inclusive growth, empower marginalized groups, and enhance participation in value chain activities.
The AIRTEA project has four specific objectives:
These objectives are designed to strengthen collaboration, improve access to resources, and enhance innovation and capacity building in the dairy sector.
Several key stakeholders attended the innovation platform meeting, including:
The participation of these stakeholders ensures technical support, research input, policy guidance, and private sector engagement, making the project robust and sustainable.
The AIRTEA project is expected to achieve significant impact in the dairy sector by:
By targeting both economic and social aspects of dairy development, AIRTEA aims to create a sustainable ecosystem that benefits farmers, cooperatives, and the wider community.
The AIRTEA innovation platform project represents a landmark initiative for Kenya’s dairy sector. By bringing together government agencies, cooperative societies, research institutions, and private sector partners, the project fosters knowledge sharing, innovation, and inclusive rural transformation.
With a strong focus on women and youth, the AIRTEA project contributes to sustainable agricultural development, improved livelihoods, and enhanced participation in the dairy value chain. Through collaborative partnerships and targeted interventions, Kenya’s dairy sector is poised to achieve higher productivity, value addition, and socio-economic impact.
Launch of the AIRTEA Innovation Platform
1. Significance of Dairy Farming in Kenya
2. County Government Support
3. Role of the Co-operative Alliance of Kenya (CAK)
4. Project Funding and Partnerships
5. Project Beneficiaries
6. Project Objectives
7. Stakeholder Participation
8. Impact and Expected Outcomes
9. Conclusion