Meet the people behind Bles Dairies

Country: Eswatini
Status: Completed
Client: https://www.signature-agri.nl/

Project Scope

• Management of Eswatini Dairy from 2019-2021
• Expansion from 500 to 1,500 milking cows
• Farm modernization and improved productivity

Bles Dairies’ Role

• Technical partner providing expertise in dairy management
• Farm development: herd expansion, land use optimization, and infrastructure improvements

Key Achievements

• Milk production increases from 11 to 21 kg of milk per cow per day
• Pregnancy rate increased, improved cow body condition
• Optimized land use: improved grass and maize production
• New barn design for improved cow comfort
• Upgraded machinery and improved data collection

Country: China
Status: Completed
Client: Fonterra
Years: 2015 – 2018

Topic: Farm Management & Dairy Advisory

Project Scope

• Provision of farm director and ongoing supervision on all dairy farming aspects (technical, commercial, and management).
• Advisory board membership and strategic guidance
• Implementation of best practices and SOPs for large-scale dairy operations
• Manage one hub with 4 farms total  #15.000 milking cows/ 150.000 M L. Building two more hubs with # 15.000 cows each

Bles Dairies’ Role

• Lead management of a large-scale dairy farm through Farm Management Solutions (FMS)
• Lead building of two more hubs of # 4 farms per hub, total # 15.000 milking cows.
• Lead licence to produce
• High-level supervision to maximize technical and financial performance
• Structured reporting and office support for on-site managers

Key Achievements

• Developed clear vision, strategy, and KPIs for farm profitability
• Completed one more hub and set the basic structure , area for the 3^rd hub
• Improved technical and management efficiency through structured SOPs
• Strengthened training programs for long-term operational success
• Secured licence to produce

Country: Uganda
Status: Completed
Client: IFC, LATO Milk
Years: 2018 – 2022
Topic: Dairy Value Chain Development

Project Scope

• Increase daily milk collection from 200 to 1,000 tons
• Selection, training, and coaching of 50 local extension workers
• Support for 500 commercial dairy farmers and 15 dairy cooperatives

Bles Dairies’ Role

• Establishment of 10 Lead Farms to drive improvements in milk supply
• Training programs to improve milk quality, quantity, and farm efficiency
• Animal health improvements, focusing on tick control and welfare
• Water availability solutions through rainwater harvesting and storage
• Introduction of improved forages for better feed and productivity

Key Achievements

• 500 farmers trained in best dairy practices, leading to higher productivity
• 80% of participating farms adopted tick control programs, improving animal health
• Over 50 rainwater harvesting structures installed, ensuring better water access
• Adoption of improved forages, reducing seasonal feed shortages

Country: Kenya
Status: Ongoing (2024 – 2027)
Donor: Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)

Consortium Partners: Bio Foods, Safaricom, Unga Group, Africa Bioenergy Programs
Topic: Dairy Sector Development

Project Scope

• Quality-Based Milk Production: Supporting farmers produce high-quality milk with significantly reduced aflatoxin levels that meets European standards, ensuring a premium price for their product.
• Farm Management & Professionalization: Training 300 small- and medium-scale farmers in modern dairy practices, including cow nutrition, reproduction, and quality-based milk production.
• Technology & Innovation: Introducing Dutch dairy technologies such as ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis, Agro Cares feed scanner, and optimized feed solutions to improve productivity.
• Sustainability & Climate Resilience: Promoting biogas technology for sustainable manure management and climate-smart dairy farming practices.

Bles Dairies’ Role

• Farm Management Support: Providing training and advisory services to improve cow nutrition, fertility management, and sustainable farming practices.
• Supply of Feed and Genetics: Supplying quality silage with controlled aflatoxin levels and quality genetics to Kenyan dairy farmers
• Technology Transfer: Introducing innovative dairy technologies such as ultrasound scanners and feed analysis tools to optimize dairy production.
• Capacity Building & Knowledge Transfer: Ensuring farmers gain long-term skills to maintain productivity beyond the project.

Key Achievements (Achieved so far)

• Establishment of a Milk Collection & Service Center (MCSC) to enable small- and medium-scale farmers to access premium products and services.

Country: Uganda
Status: Completed
Client: SNV, LATO Milk
Years: 2018
Topic: Dairy Value Chain Development

Project Scope

• Development and implementation of a Quality-Based Milk Payment System (QBMPS)
• Training and coaching of farmers and milk collection center operators
• Introduction of milk quality testing equipment and payment incentives

Bles Dairies’ Role

• Designed and implemented QBMPS within the TIDE project in Western Uganda
• Worked with three milk processors and 10 farmer cooperatives (600+ farmers)
• Introduced milk quality testing for composition, freshness, and contaminants
• Supported farmers and cooperatives in meeting quality standards

Key Achievements

• Five cooperatives met the new quality standards, improving raw milk supply
• 600+ farmers engaged in quality-based milk production
• Processing plants gained access to higher-quality milk, improving efficiency

Country: Ethiopia
Status: Ongoing (2024 – 2028)
Client: SNV Ethiopia
Topic: Dairy Value Chain Development

Project Scope

• Food Safety: Support 20 dairy factories to achieve HACCP certification, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for 100 small-scale producers.
• Professionalization: Training 60 private dairy farm advisors, supporting 400 farmers to produce 1,000 liters/day, and establishing 20 Practical Dairy Training Farms (PDTFs).
• Localization: Strengthening the capacity of local dairy consultancy companies to enable long-term, locally driven sector development beyond Bles Dairies’ direct involvement
  
  

Bles Dairies’ Role
Bles Dairies plays a crucial role in driving systemic change through:

• Training & Capacity Building: Developing dairy farm advisors and supporting farm efficiency improvements.
• Food Safety & Quality Control: Implementing GHP/GMP, conducting HACCP training, and supporting dairy processors.
• Farm Management & Technical Support: Establishing training farms, improving milk production efficiency, and introducing best practices in farm operations.
• Sustainability & Local Engagement: Strengthening local consultancy services and facilitating a transition towards locally managed dairy sector solutions.

Key Achievements Achieved so far

• Training and coaching of 60 dairy farm advisors, supporting 10+ commercial farmers.
• Implementation of food safety standards, ensuring compliance with EFDA regulations and Codex guidelines.
• Capacity building of local dairy consultancy firms, ensuring sustainable expertise remains after the project.

Country: Saudi Arabia
Status: Completed
Client: Ministry of Agriculture, Saudi Arabia
Years: 2015 – 2017
Topic: Dairy Sector Analysis

Project Scope

• Conducted a survey on technical, operational, and managerial challenges in 14 medium and small-scale dairy farms
• Assessed farms ranging from 800 to 5,000 cows, including three large farms with over 50,000 cows each
• Evaluated the sustainability and competitiveness of small and medium-scale dairy farms
  
  

Bles Dairies’ Role

• Collected and analyzed farm data to identify key industry challenges
• Provided strategic recommendations for the Ministry of Agriculture on structural improvements
• Conducted a market study to assess the future positioning of small and medium-scale dairy farms
  
  

Key Achievements

• Delivered insights for policy decision-making to support the long-term viability of smaller dairy farms
• Identified strategies to improve farm efficiency, productivity, and sustainability
• Provided a market analysis to inform investment and development strategies
  
  This project supported Saudi Arabia’s efforts to maintain a balanced dairy sector, ensuring the sustainability of small and medium-sized farms alongside large-scale production units.

Country: Kenya
Status: Ongoing
Client/Partner: Bio Food Products Ltd, Lato Milk
Years: 2024 – til date
Topic: Sustainable Fodder Production and Feed Sourcing

Project Scope

• Production of over 3,000 tons of high-quality maize silage
• Development of large-scale fodder production to lower feed costs
• Implementation of regenerative agriculture trials with protein-rich cover crops
• Scaling up to 2,000 acres of fodder production (>20,000 tons) in the following years
  
  

Bles Dairies’ Role

• Silage Production: Partnering with Nundoroto Contractors for mechanized harvesting and quality-controlled silage
• Sales and Farm Management Support: Bles Dairies Team sells silage and supports farmers integrate silage into their feeding programs for improved milk yields and profitability
• Regenerative Agriculture Trials: Testing drought-resistant cover crops (Dolichos, Hybrid Millet, Cowpeas) to enhance soil health and provide alternative feed options
  
  
  

Key Achievements

• 25% higher silage yields on the same land compared to previous years
• -50% decrease in cost per KG dry matter from 90 KES per KG dry matter, to 45 KES per KG dry matter
• Over 100 farmers supported with affordable silage for six months
• Projected 44% reduction in feed costs per liter of milk

Country: Azerbaijan
Status: Completed
Client: Private Investor
Years: 2011 – 2012
Topic: Turn Key Large Scale Farm Development

Project Scope

• Construction of a modern dairy barn, completed in August 2012
• Installation of a milking parlor in three phases, completed by December 2012
• Importation of 660 heifers from Europe
• Deployment of a Dutch farm manager to oversee overall management and roughage production

Bles Dairies’ Role

• Design and implementation of farm infrastructure
• Selection, export, and management of dairy herd
• Installation and commissioning of milking parlor equipment
• Support in establishing cheese production and processing facilities

Key Achievements

• 630 cows successfully calved, ensuring herd productivity
• Achieved an average milk production of 25 liters per cow per day
• Produced high-quality milk with 4.40% fat and 3.25% protein
• Cheese production line established and now operating independently
• Successful hand-over

This project delivered a fully operational dairy farm, enhancing local milk production and processing capacity in Azerbaijan.