A two-year old dairy project has increased milk production for farmers in Murang'a county by slightly more than 25 times the previous volumes, increasing their revenues.
The production is now 127,000 kilos per day up from 5,000 prior to the rollout of the project.
Dairy farmers in the county will now receive Sh127 million for milk deliveries in August.
“The provision of animal feeds that includes fodder, sweet potatoes vines and subsidised artificial insemination are some of the interventions behind the success of the sector that has turned to be a major income earner in Murang’a," Governor Mwangi Wa Iria said.
During the 2014-15 financial year, the county bought 35 milk coolers and donated them to the dairy cooperatives to support the sector, which was identified as one of economic pillars with a huge potential. The acquisition of the coolers have helped cut transport costs and losses.
Sustained guaranteed price of Sh35 per kilo of milk has also driven the success of the dairy project, a venture that has enticed more farmers to join Murang’a County Creameries.
Under the dairy project, county's youths are given loans to buy high-breed dairy cows and repay through deductions from milk deliveries.
The county is also setting up a processing plant in Maragua, which, according to the governor, will be ready in three months to handle surplus milk in a bid to cut wastage. Brookside Dairy processes most of the deliveries.
“Contract agreement with Brookside of 80,000 kilos per day will continue as the plant will only process the surplus milk which will be sold under brand name, Murang’a Fresh,” Wa Iria said.