The Murang’a government has set aside Sh500 million to revive the ailing dairy sector in the county.
Speaking while flagging off 35 milk coolers procured by the county government, Governor Mwangi Wairia said the coolers will help dairy farmers to add value to their milk.
“Sh500 million has been set aside to revive the dairy sector and part of that money has been used to purchase the 35 milk coolers to be installed in every ward," he said.
Wairia said a lot of milk goes to waste due to lack of milk coolers. “Half of the coolers will have pasteurisers, which will help sell the milk locally at the same time enhancing their packing," he said.
Wairia said value addition will assist dairy farmers sell the milk at better prices than selling it raw to the processers whom he accused of exploiting the farmers.
“Pasteurising milk is the only way to fight hawkers and middlemen in the milk market,” he said. Wairia said the county government has rolled out subsided artificial insemination service.
He said the county government has a responsibility of providing high quality and affordable semen to local farmers to increase milk production.
The governor said high quality semen will be sold at Sh500 down from Sh1,500, which was charged by private veterinary officers.
He said the county government is also in a process of giving dairy cows to jobless youths in the county. “We have bought cows for the youth and they are in Mariira Farm waiting for the youth to form groups to get them,” Wairia said.
