Aim to enhance milk productivity and reduce GHG emissions. 

Researchers have assessed the cost-benefit and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions of climate-smart management interventions on 666 dairy farms in Kenya. These interventions aim to enhance milk productivity while simultaneously reducing GHG emissions. 

 

The project builds on previous research conducted on small dairy farms in Costa Rica, adapting the findings to the Kenyan context. The analysis utilizes data collected during the project, as well as information from an existing Kenyan Government initiative.

 

“Our main recommendations and findings are that relatively low cost interventions can increase farm production and reduce GHG emission intensity, however, the farmers who would benefit most are those least able to afford the interventions,» said Dr. James Gibbons, a Senior Lecturer in Ecological Modelling at Bangor University in Wales. 

 

 

In this picture a manual bailer is demonstrated at a Kenyan farm in Kericho country. This is done to conserve high quality forage to increase milk production. Photo; James Gibbons/Bangor University
A cow on a Kenyan farm in Kericho County. Typical farm sizes in this area are 2-3 dairy cows. Photo; James Gibbons/Bangor University.

Farm greenhouse gas emissions on 666 dairy farms were estimated using the Agrecalc tool, based on survey data previously collected by the Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP), and funded by the Kenyan Government.

 

Researchers from Bangor University and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) participated in workshops with farmers in three Kenyan counties (Baringo, Kericho, and Bomet). During these workshops, they gathered financial cost data for implementing climate-smart management practices.

 

This resulted in the article Marginal abatement cost curve of climate-smart agricultural practices to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from smallholder dairy farms in Kenya, that was published in the Journal of Clearer Production in April 2025. 

 

 

Key findings: 

The objective of this research was to assess the effect of implementing Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices on milk yields and GHG emission intensities (EI) from three dairy production system types (no-graze, semi-intensive, and extensive) in Kenya. In these systems, farms using five or more CSA practices saw a 44 % increase in milk production and a 25 % reduction in GHG EI compared to farms not using any CSA practices.  

 
Table 2. List of climate smart agricultural practices assessed with examples of the specific techniques used. Improved cattle breeds use Use of Improved cattle breeds, artificial insemination (AI) services; breeding improvements Feed processing equipment Chaff cutter; improved machinery for feed processing Fodder improvement Improved fodder; fodder establishment; fodder improvement Feed preservation Feeds preservation; hay; silage making Feed supplements Use of dairy concentrates; own farm feed formulations; other feed formulations Vaccinations East Coast Fever vaccination Fertilizer use Fertilizer use Improved pasture Improved pasture; legumes mixed with Kikuyu grass; improved pasture management; pasture establishment and management Feeding of by-products Use of stovers/crop residues Water harvesting Water harvesting (equipment and infrastructure) Stall feeding and housing Semi-zero grazing unit; Zero grazing unit; Improved housing; Improved dairy unit; Dairy unit improvement Milk marketing Milk marketing through cooperative membership
List of climate smart agricultural practices assessed with examples of the specific techniques used. From the article in Journal of Cleaner Production.

By; Anette Tjomsland Spilling

First published 10.09.24

Updated 19.09.25

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