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Sh1.5 billion government milk coolers set to boost production, profits for farmers
PS Jonathan Mueke says the intervention is a major step in building resilience and competitiveness in the country's dairy sector.
Milk farmers countrywide will get a Sh1.5 billion boost in milk coolers from the government meant to improve production and profits.
Through the government’s Livestock Value Chain Support Project (LVCSP), the coolers will be distributed in 41 milk producing counties and is expected to slash post-harvest losses and maintain high milk quality.
Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke said the 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000-litre milk coolers are part of a program that was recently launched by President William Ruto, in efforts to boost production and improve milk prices.
Speaking after delivering a 5,000 litre milk cooler at Ndarugu dairy cooperative society in Gatundu South, Kiambu County, Mueke said the intervention is a major step in building resilience and competitiveness in the country’s dairy sector.
“This is a direct investment in our farmers’ prosperity and food security. By providing modern milk cooling technology, we are reducing wastage, raising quality standards, and opening up better market opportunities,” said Mweke.
The initiative, he noted, will be offering hope for thousands of small-scale farmers looking to secure better livelihoods through improved production, quality, and market access.
The PS further announced that his department is also working on a program of procuring over 20,000 stainless steel milk cans to ease movement of milk from the farm to processors.
The stainless steel cans, procured from Poland, he said, will replace plastic cans that many dairy farmers use to take their milk to the cooperative societies, compromising on their quality
“Many farmers take their milk to the processor using plastics bottles which compromise on milk quality,” he added.
Through the improved milk quality, Mueke said a quality based payment program has been introduced where farmers who deliver high quality milk will be paid an additional Sh10 per litre.
“The focus on maintaining high milk quality that would make it easy for processors to move towards value addition to produce butter, cheese or yoghurt for export,
“The milk processors and stainless milk cans will help in ensuring the quality of milk is not compromised. Additionally, we are in talks with milk processors where those whose milk has high content of butter fat and protein will get another additional Sh10,” stated the PS.
Mueke divulged that a pilot survey carried out at two processors shows that some farmers are getting Sh70 per litre after delivering quality milk
Other efforts of improving milk quality include mass vaccination of dairy cows, with the PS saying the exercise is ongoing in Laikipia and Meru counties, adding that it will be launched in other counties in the coming months.
Ndarugo Diary becomes the first cooperative to benefit from the government cooling system even as area MP Gabriel Kagombe said the increased storage would enhance it’s milk processing capacity form 6,000 to 11,200 litres.
Kagombe said the cooperative plans to embark on pasteurization and packaging efforts in their expansion plans in a bid to improve prices
The dairy sector is among the biggest industries in the country, contributing 4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Last year, it contributed Sh261 billion after producing 5.3 billion litres of milk.
