A twin-track approach: co-existence of informal and formal dairy value chains: A case study in Vihiga County, Kenya

The large majority of milk in Kenya is marketed through informal channels. The policy of the Kenyan Government is focused on formalising the dairy sector to ensure food safety, productivity and compliance with the market. The demand for raw milk and nearby/informal transactions remains high. The informal part of the value chain provides essential opportunities for women and young people to earn a living and diversify their diets. However, working conditions are often poor, there is little value addition and there are concerns with food safety. What if formalisation of the sector is extended further? What if informality is nurtured? The case calls for the informal trading system to co-exist with formal arrangements in a ‘twin-track approach’.