Jeremy Njue Nyaga has long been known as a hardworking small-scale farmer. Like many in the area, his life revolved around tea farming, with his green leaves delivered to Rukuriri Tea Factory Company Limited, the heartbeat of local agriculture. But while tea provided seasonal income, Jeremy often struggled with the irregular cash flow that made it difficult to meet daily family needs, pay school fees, or invest in farm improvements.
This changed when Fairtrade, in partnership with Rukuriri Tea Factory, introduced a farmer empowerment project encouraging diversification and improved farming practices. Inspired by the training, Jeremy ventured into dairy farming, starting modestly with one cow. But he quickly realized that to succeed, he needed to upgrade his herd’s quality, productivity, and resilience.
That’s where Artificial Insemination (AI) became a game-changer for Jeremy and his fellow farmers.
Fig.1 Below shows the image of the Friesian a calf he got after A.I
Fig 1.1 delow shows a cow that gave birth to the above calf
Through the project, Jeremy learned about the benefits of AI over traditional breeding methods. Instead of relying on local bulls, which often had unknown health and genetic issues, he could now access high-quality semen from superior dairy breeds like Friesian and Ayrshire, specially selected for high milk yield, disease resistance, and adaptability to the local climate.
In early 2023, Jeremy took the bold step and used AI services to inseminate his cow. The process was efficient, hygienic, and, most importantly, opened up the door to improved genetics. Nine months later, his cow gave birth to a healthy calf with noticeably stronger features and higher growth rates compared to local breeds.
The benefits soon became clear. The mother cow’s milk production increased, while the calf showed promising potential for even higher yields in the future. As his herd grew through AI, Jeremy noticed a steady rise in his dairy income. He could now supply more milk to local cooperatives, earning a regular cash flow that complemented his seasonal tea income.
But Jeremy’s success was not in isolation. Word of his improved yields spread through Runyenjes. More farmers, inspired by his progress, began adopting AI services provided through the Fairtrade project and supported by trained technicians in collaboration with county veterinary officers.
Artificial Insemination brought more than just better cows — it brought community transformation. By using AI, farmers reduced the risk of transmitting diseases that often spread through natural mating with local bulls. It also eliminated the costs and logistical challenges of maintaining breeding bulls, making dairy farming more efficient and scalable for smallholders.
Moreover, with AI, farmers could choose semen from bulls with specific traits: higher milk output, shorter calving intervals, or resistance to common diseases like East Coast Fever. This selective breeding has begun to transform the genetic quality of dairy herds across Runyenjes, leading to healthier cows, higher production, and better resilience in the face of climate stress.
For Jeremy, the impact has been deeply personal and deeply rewarding. His improved income has allowed him to pay his children’s school fees on time, improve his home, and even save towards buying more dairy cows. With a growing herd of improved breeds, he dreams of establishing a small milk cooling center in his village to help other farmers preserve and market their milk more profitably.
The success of AI in Runyenjes is now seen as a blueprint for other constituencies in Embu County. It has proven that small-scale farmers, when equipped with modern technology and supported by strong community projects like those from Fairtrade and Rukuriri Tea Factory, can transform their livelihoods.
Today, Jeremy Njue Nyaga stands as a beacon of this transformation — a farmer who, by embracing Artificial Insemination, has not only improved his own fortune but has helped spark a quiet dairy revolution in the heart of Embu County.
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