Cak Presents Airtea Project Brief At Ena Irrigation Multi-purpose Co-operative Society
By Admin
Embu County, 14th June 2022
The Co-operative Alliance of Kenya (CAK) presented a comprehensive project brief on the AIRTEA Project – Leveraging the Benefits of Multi-Stakeholders Partnership to Support Rural Women and Youths in the Dairy Sector in Kenya at Ena Irrigation Multi-purpose Co-operative Society on 14th June 2022. The session brought together cooperative leaders, dairy farmers, and key stakeholders to provide insight into the project objectives, expected outcomes, and opportunities for women and youth involvement in the dairy value chain.
Sharing the AIRTEA Vision
The project brief aimed to inform and engage cooperative members on how the AIRTEA project is supporting rural women and youth to enhance incomes, improve livelihoods, and strengthen food and nutrition security through dairy sector innovations. The CAK team highlighted the regional scope of the project, which spans Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, and its coordination under FARA in partnership with ASARECA and EAFF, funded by the European Union.
Objectives of the AIRTEA Project
During the briefing, the CAK team emphasised the project’s overall goal of achieving sustainable agrarian livelihoods and rural transformation through inclusive research and innovation. Key objectives shared with cooperative members included:
- Increased participation of women and youth in linking multi-stakeholder innovation platforms to practical solutions
- Adoption of technologies, knowledge, and innovations by stakeholders involved in Agricultural Business Learning Alliance (ABLA) platforms
- Enhanced profitability and employment opportunities along dairy value chains
Cooperative-Level Opportunities
Members of Ena Irrigation Multi-purpose Co-operative Society were introduced to practical interventions aimed at improving milk productivity and quality, strengthening cooperative management, and enhancing access to markets and financial services. The CAK team also discussed how multi-stakeholder partnerships, including research institutions, government agencies, private sector actors, and financial service providers, are integral to project success.
The briefing underscored the role of cooperatives as critical entry points for mobilisation of women and youth, aggregation of milk, delivery of economic services, and creation of sustainable networks within the dairy sector.
Expected Impact
The CAK team highlighted that the project seeks to:
- Increase milk productivity among participating farmers
- Improve incomes of women and youth dairy farmers
- Strengthen cooperative performance and governance
- Promote sustainable, inclusive practices along the dairy value chain
Engagement and Way Forward
The briefing concluded with an interactive session where cooperative members asked questions, shared their experiences, and explored how they could actively participate in the AIRTEA project. Participants expressed optimism that the project would provide concrete solutions to challenges in milk production, market access, and capacity building for women and youth.
The CAK team reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with Ena Irrigation Multi-purpose Co-operative Society and other partner cooperatives to ensure effective implementation of the AIRTEA project in Kenya.