ProfilerMary MwihakiMary Mwihaki isthe acting QualityController forKiambaa Dairy CooperativeSociety Limited. She Joinedthe Society in 2014 as the assistantExtension Officer whereshe oversaw farm visits andfarmer trainings rising to thecurrent position. She tells uswhat her new post entails andwhy she loves working withthe Kiambaa farmer.So then what is Milk Quality Control?Milk quality control is the use of approved tests to ensure that themilk is fit for human consumption. This is only possible throughinstitution of a workable quality testing and assurance systemconforms to national or internationally acceptable standards.How does the quality control chain work?Milk is a highly perishable product which if not taken care of cancause untold suffering to the consumer. Quality control is thereforea through and through chain which starts at the farm, to themilk collection centers, dairy factories and finally to the consumer.All of the people involved in these stages must observe high standardsof hygiene while handling milk.What do you do at KiambaaDairy Farmers Cooperative Society?My main work here is to test and control the quality of milk.Milk testing and quality control is an essential component of anymilk processing industry whether small, medium or large scale.Milk being made up of 87% water is prone to adulteration byunscrupulous middlemen and unfaithful farm workers. Moreover,its high nutritive value makes it an ideal medium for therapid multiplication of bacteria, particularly under unhygienicproduction and storage at varying temperatures. We know that,in order for any processor to make good dairy products, goodquality raw materials are essential. A milk processor or handlerwill only be assured of the quality of raw milk if certain basicquality tests are carried out at various stages of transportationof milk from the producer to the processor and finally to theconsumer.What is your day in the Society like?My day starts very early. I have to be on the ground as we are collectingmilk from farmers so as to check on the quality of milk.Being part of a large team however makes these tasks enjoyable.What tests do you undertake to determine the quality ofmilk?There are several tests that assure the quality of milk. Amongthem is the Organoleptic test. Here no equipment is required, butthe milk grader must have good sense of sight, smell and taste. Theresult of the test is obtained instantly through observation.Then there is the Clot on Boiling (C.O.B) Test which looks forlevels of acids in the milk. Finally there is the quick and simpleAlcohol Test. It is based on instability of the proteins when thelevels of acid and/or rennet are increased and acted upon by thealcohol. These are among the many quality tests that we undertaketo determine and certify our milk is fit for human consumption.As the Acting Quality Controller in Kiambaa Dairy, whatdo you have to tell our farmers?I urge our farmers to ensure that they try their level best to retainthe quality of milk. This will ensure retention of our currentmarket, uptake of new markets which then means improved cashflow. When we have assured cash flow then the milk paymentsrates will improve right back to our farmers. What that means isthat we will be on the development forefront where the quality oflife in our locality improves.I am privileged to be a member of Kiambaa Dairy CooperativeSociety success story. I started my farming journey in 2006 aftermy mother-in-law gifted me with a milking cow. Back then, I usedto carry out my activities traditionally which would yield verylittle. At that point, the returns were very low then I saw no pointin taking care of my cow. Then I would traditionally feed my cow.Therefore, quality fodder, good husbandry was lacking.Sadly, wehad to sell the cow.My way of doing things was set to change when Mr. Mambounder Kiambaa Dairy extensively taught us how to take good careof our cows so as to get good returns. From these forums, I understoodthe value of maintaining good hygiene, good feeding habitsand balancing the feeds and fodder. As if by good luck, my motherhappily gave me a cow. This presented me with an opportunity toput into practice what our Extension Officers were teaching andtraining us on. Now we have an in-calf heifer from this cow and acalf. Her production currently stands at 20 litres daily.Women Empowermentin PracticeTHE <strong>KIAMBAA</strong> MODELJosphine Watiri Kiarie is a bubbling happy young mother ofthree, joyfully living her dream as a dairy farmer and memberof Kiambaa Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society. She is firstand foremost a mother and wife. She shares with us her joys andachievements in farming.The society has been instrumental in empowering its membersfinancially and technically much to our advancement more sothe female members. It is a requirement to operate a bank accountto be a member of the society. Throughout my engagement withKiambaa, I am in control of my finances and as such I am able totake care of my household bills, school fees for our children as wellas extend to fruit and vegetable farming. My family, my husbandespecially appreciates this as we are able to diversify our investmentsas opposed to relying on only one source of income.Financially independent women are an asset to the society asit becomes easier to partner with our husbands to build our families.I encourage my fellow women especially those that have landto engage in farming as its rewards are clearly visible both financiallyand on the family front.6 ISSUE No. 01 AUGUST - DECEMBER 2015
THE OFFICIAL <strong>KIAMBAA</strong> DAIRY FARMERS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY MAGAZINE7
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