Dairy farmers in Rift Valley have been urged to increase production, as CS for Cooperatives Wycliffe Oparanya promised them stability and prompt payments at the New KCC.
Oparanya said daily intake at New KCC has increased to over 400,000 litres and that the company would as from next month pay bonuses to those who deliver their milk to the firm.
The CS said the company would pay farmers promptly for their deliveries between 5th and 10th of every month.
“I have given out my number so that if you face any challenges, including lack of payments, then you can inform me and I will respond immediately,” Oparanya said.
The CS encouraged farmers to strengthen their dairy cooperative societies, saying these were key in helping them mobilise resources for investments and other development programmes.
“Through cooperative societies you can easily access financial assistance for fees and other activities,” he said.
Farmers should venture into growing coffee, he said, as this was a lucrative agricultural activity.
Oparanya spoke in Uasin Gishu county where he attended a dairy stakeholders meeting and also toured Allo Dairies at Seiyo near Cheptiret.
He was with Deputy Governor Evans Kapkea and director of Allo Dairies, Geraldine Jeruto. The CS commended Allo Dairies for investing in the dairy farm which delivers milk to New KCC.
“I am very pleased with the kind of work we have seen at Allo Dairies and it’s such investments we want to have so that we create markets for our farmers and also jobs for our youth.”
Jeruto said they were working closely with farmers and residents to grow the dairy sector. Kapkea said the county was working with the national government to improve access roads in the region so that farmers can easily access markers and transport farm inputs and their produce.
Later, the CS hosted a similar activity at Seregea in Kakamega county. Oparanya also delved into matters affecting the Hustler Fund, saying defaulters will have to repay.
“Those who took the money and did not repay should know that the solution to a debt is to pay back and not to run away,” he said.
The Fund has seen Sh60 Billion loans disbursed to more than 20 million borrowers. Of these, only two million serviced the loans as required.
“The two million who borrowed and repaid have improved their credit score and can now borrow up to Sh150,000 from the fund,” Oparanya said.
The CS said the money will be recovered so that it is used to uplift the
lives of other Kenyans, adding that
the Fund was one of the schemes
through which the government used
to enable citizens to invest in income
generation activities.
