• But Mugo said the government has put in place measures that will encourage an increase in milk production in Murang’a from the current six litres per cow per day to 15 litres.
• The government has pledged to provide 20 coolers to help in milk preservation and reduce post-harvest losses.
Image: Alice Waithera
The national government wants dairy farmers from Murang’a county to double their milk production.
The county currently produces 85 million litres annually, with a monthly production of seven million litres.
But according to the Kenya Dairy Board chairperson Genesio Mugo, local farmers have the capacity to up their production to 170 million litres annually.
The county is the third largest milk producer in the country after Kiambu and Nyandarua.
Kiambu produces an average of 140 million litres annually, with each cow producing about 12.6 litres per day against a national average of 10.1 litres per cow.
But Mugo said the government has put in place measures that will encourage an increase in milk production in Murang’a from the current six litres per cow per day to 15 litres.
While addressing Murang'a residents at Kimorori grounds in Kenol town on Saturday, Mugo revealed that in the next few days, the government will announce a minimum guaranteed price for milk to cushion farmers from poor prices.
Nationally, farmers produce 5.2 billion litres of milk, generating at least Sh200 billion a year.
In Murang’a, the government has pledged to provide 20 coolers to help in milk preservation and reduce post-harvest losses.
The county has 39 coolers that are run by dairy co-operative societies.
Farmers sell their milk at Sh50 per litre and receive an average of Sh45 per litre after deductions by their dairy co-operatives.
“The President made a pledge during campaigns to do everything possible to increase milk prices and he is doing exactly that,” Mugo said.
He said imports of powdered milk that have been used by cartels to saturate the local market for a long time have been stopped.
Some processors, he said, imported powdered milk from European countries, processed and packaged it for sale in the local market instead of sourcing the commodity from local farmers.
“When I was appointed to the board in March this year, I immediately stopped the imports and that is what has caused milk prices to rise to an average of Sh50 per litre.”
Other processors licensed to process local milk and source for external markets but acquired permits allowing them to import milk have also been stopped.
To lower the cost of animal feed, Mugo said the government has opened up public land for planting of fodder by farmers.
“If there is any unutilised public land in your area, seek permission from state officers and start planting fodder in it,” he said.
He said New KCC was allocated Sh3 billion in the budget to enhance its capacity and provide a ready market for farmers.
Kiganjo factory that is run by New KCC was commissioned by the President two weeks ago and will also process camel milk.
Others in Runyenjes, Embu, and Eldoret in Uasin Gishu are in the pipeline, he said, urging Kenyans to continue supporting the Kenya Kwanza administration that he said has plans to put money in their pockets.
Nasewa industrial park in Busia county has been allocated Sh3 billion in the budget will be used to enhance production of animal feeds and influence a reduction in their costs.
The park will have about 843 acres in Matayos South developed for consolidation, processing, and value addition of agricultural products.