• Another Sh3.8 will go though through supplementary budgets to modernise and expand processing plants countrywide.
• The Kenya Dairy Board has placed a minimum price of Sh35 per litre.
Image: FILE
The days of pouring out good milk for lack of storage will end soon because more storage will be built and pasture will grow in the in.
The New Kenya Cooperative Creameries modernisation programme has received Sh700 million to increase milk production.
And other farms and creameries will add capacity too ad increase production.
Cooperative and Micro and Small Enterprise CS Simon Chelugui said in the supplementary budget, the government will continue with the modernisation program.
"We have received Sh700 million to continue with the modernisation programme through the New KCC," he said.
The CS said the funds will will go towards increasing the capacity for milk processing plants.
He said with the ongoing rains, there will be a lot of milk in the country and it is likely to go to waste because of low capacity.
Chelugui confirmed the government has also allocated another Sh3.8 billion through the supplementary budget to modernise and expand other processing plants across the country.
“We will be opening a processing plant in Nyambene. Nyahururu and Kiganjo milk processing plants are ready. We have expanded Dandora, Miritini in Mombasa and we will have new frontiers such as Kabianga, Nandi and Runyenjes," the CS said.
"This is aimed at increasing the capacity of our milk processing plants that will absorb all the milk," he said.
The CS said in the future, the government will be able to guarantee milk farmers a minimum price per litre.
The Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) has placed a minimum price of Sh35 per litre.
"As we take control of our production cost like the feeds and extension services, we should be able to assure our farmers of a minimum price per litre," Chelugui said.
He said this will help to improve the economy of rural Kenyans.
He said the government will move to the more than 16 value chains including rice, fish, tea, cashew nuts and edible oils.
"This is meant to improve the bottom up economic transformation agenda," he said.
Livestock PS Harry Kimtai assured Kenyans there is plenty of water and forage with the good rains being experienced in the country.
This will help cushion the short supply in the country.
“This will help increase the supply of milk, hence stabilising the prices of both farm gate and consumer prices,” Kimtai said.
Currently 500ml of milk is selling at Sh53 to Sh60 in the retail market.
Kimtai told farmers to take advantage of the rains and the increased pasture to conserve the pasture so that they use it during the dry season so that we have constant supply of fodder.
“We should avoid having a drop in supply of milk because of lack of pasture. Farmers should plan ahead. Plant enough fodder during this rainy season and conserve it to be used during the dry season to ensure constant supply of milk,” the PS said.
The PS however noted that the cost of production has been going high due to the cost of feed and drought, and that dairy farmers are still footing a big bill because they are not able to break even.
Kimtai said Government aims to increase productivity of dairy animals from seven litres per day to 14 litres per day by the year 2027.
“This is our target for now and it is achievable if farmers use the right improved breeds of animals and change their production system by using fodder,” he said.
(Edited by V. Graham)