LEWA PRACTICAL DAIRY TRAINING CENTRE

Baraka Farm

ABOUT USLewa Practical Dairy Training Centre ~ Baraka Farm was started

as a project of Lewa Children’s Home -Trust which is a charitable

children’s institution (NGO). Since 2003, more than 10,000 guests

from all over East Africa have visited Baraka Farm. These guests

were small holder farmers, livestock officers, students etc.

Phyllis Keino (founder director) and Jos Creemers (manager)

developed a plan to have the small-holder zero-grazing

demonstration unit turned into a small training centre for so

called smallholder farmers. They realized the need to improve the

skills of small scale farmers on practical dairy production. LCH

set aside 2.5 acres of the farm to establish practical dairy training

center (PDTC) where relevant demonstrations can be done.

OUR TRAINING PROGRAMMES

We offer a five (5) day training course that starts

on Monday and ends on Friday.

The training is highly practical. It includes 60% practical and 40

% theoretical approach.

The following modules are taught:

• Napier Grass & Fodder Management

• Feeding

• Housing

• Calf Rearing

• Milk Technique and Hygiene

• Fertility & Breeding

• Health & Diseases

• Record Keeping

- We developed our own curriculum and teaching

modules which focuses on the target group ‘small

holder farmers’.

- 8 Modules are complete

- Each module exists of a minimum of 4 pages.

- - The teaching materials are handed

out to the students and can be

taken home by students at the end

of the week

PRACTICAL SESSION AT THEZERO GRAZING UNIT

SESSION

DISCUSSION SESSION AT THEZERO GRAZING UNIT

THEORY SESSION IN THE CLASSROOM

PDTC TRAINER TAKING FARMERS THROUGH THE HOUSING SESSION AT THE ZERO GRAZING UNIT

MARKETING STRATEGIES

COWSIGNALS TRAININGTRAINERS OF TRAINERS DURING A PRACTICAL SESSION AT THE MILKING PARLOUR

FACILITIES AVAILABLE

Small holder farm

*around the zero grazing unit, one can see Napier grass, and a ‘Protein Bank' these are protein rich crops which can be used to add value (protein) to feeds/diet of the cow. *the zero grazing unit makes use of appropriate technology aimed at low input farming and a gradual improvement of genetic potential of the cows available and a gradual improvement of the

fodder and feeds available.

ZERO GRAZING UNIT

NAPIER GRASS AT THE ZERO GRAZING UNIT

PROTEIN RICH FODDER CROPS AT THE ZERO GRAZING UNIT

Feedlot and grazing for dairy cows

FEEDLOT

GRAZING

MILK COLLECTION

MILKING PARLOUR

Milking parlour and collection

The Baraka Farm has 80 pedigree Holstein Friesian dairy cows

which. The young stock rearing unit is a modern zero grazing

system which achieves high growth rates.

Calf rearing unit

Silage and fodder conservation

MAIZE SILAGE

DRYING FODDER TREE LEAVES

Milk processing

PROCESSING PLANT

CHEESE STORAGE

Boarding facilities available to conduct the training

1.Class room is with chairs and tables.

2.Video and TV screen are available

3.Accommodation for participants.

DINING ROOM

CLASSROOM WITH TV SET

ONE OF OUR ROOMS

MALE, 82%,

FEMALE, 18%,

FARMERS TRAINED AS AT 1ST AUGUST 2014

MALE FEMALE

As at 31st December 2015 Lewa PDTC ~ Baraka Farm has trained 350 farmers/trainers/students; 63 female (18%) and 287 Male (82%) from different counties countrywide. 10% self sponsored, 83% SNV sponsored and 7% LCH Sponsored.

BARINGO14%

UASIN GISHU, 44%MERU9%

NYANDARUA5%

POKOT7%

KAKAMEGA3%

ELGEYO MARAKWET7%

HOMABAY2%

NAKURU9%

FARMERS TRAINED PER COUNTY

BARINGO UASIN GISHU MERU

NYANDARUA POKOT KAKAMEGA

ELGEYO MARAKWET HOMABAY NAKURU

Riftvalley71%

western5%

Nyanza2%

Eastern 14%

Central8%

FARMERS ATTENDANCE ACCORDING TO PROVINCES

Riftvalley western Nyanza Eastern Central

Trainers11%

Small Sc. Farmers

70%

Large Sc. Farmers

15%

Students4%

FARMERS/TRAINERS

Trainers Small Sc. Farmers

Large Sc. Farmers Students

FEB15%

MARCH18%

APRIL9%

MAY22%

JUNE18%

JULY18%

MONTHLY ATTENDANCE

FEB MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY

CHALLENGES WE ENCOUNTER

• Sharing of resources with the LCH• Many potential trainees prefer one day

training• Marketing• Course duration is short• Number of farmers small• Requires intensive intake of farmers

Our marketing strategies include;• Distribution of flyers, posters and brochures• Social media i.e. Facebook, Youtube, Google +, Linkedin• TV, Newspaper, word of mouth• NGO's : SNV, heifer international, one acre fund, KAVES-

USAID, Smart-Dairy.• Facilitation: Cowsignals, DTI, Laikipia University• Milk collection company: KCC, Brookside, Cooperatives• Possible in the future, Trade fairs, Shows, Field Days

etc.