- Once delivered, the coolers will promote value addition as they will help farmers preserve their milk more boosting their returns.
- The coolers will benefit co-operative societies that were earlier this year engaged in a subsidy programme by the County government.
Image: Alice Waithera
In a bid to support the dairy sector in Murang’a county, the National government has committed to provide 20 coolers to dairy co-operative societies.
President William Ruto on Friday said his administration is in the process of procuring 600 coolers that will then be distributed to various counties before the end of the year.
The President who visited various projects in Murang’a said his government will channel more resources and equipment to empower dairy farmers and save them from the exploitation of brokers.
In 2013, former Murang’a governor Mwangi wa Iria started a multi-million shilling dairy project that saw farmers consolidated into 38 dairy co-operative societies that were then provided with a 5,000-litre milk cooler each.
Under the project, the former governor then started a milk processing plant dubbed Murang’a County Creameries to process the milk produced by farmers while at the same time providing them with high quality nappier grass cuttings to ensure they have sufficient feeds.
The project saw milk prices soar from as low as Sh15 per litre to a set price of Sh40 per litre as farmers were able to consolidate their produce and add value to it.
The President said once the coolers are delivered, they will promote value addition as they will help farmers preserve their milk more and reduce their losses while boosting their returns.
The coolers will benefit co-operative societies that were earlier this year engaged in a subsidy programme by the County government.
The subsidy programme benefited a section of the co-operatives that successfully bid to be included in the programme that sees over 19,000 farmers receive an extra Sh3.50 per litre of milk sold.
About 13 cooperative societies have been benefiting from the programme that was allocated Sh250 million in the current budget.
The programme’s objective is to cushion farmers from fluctuation of prices and ensuring they have minimum guaranteed returns.
“The coolers will be delivered before the year ends and will increase the returns farmers receive from their produce,” said the president who was speaking at Kangari market in Kigumo constituency.
He further noted that the government has plans to zero rate all raw materials used in making animal feeds to lower the cost of milk production.
Ruto further said his administration will establish a Sh500 million industrial and aggregation park at Makenji area in partnership with the County government.
The National government will support the project with Sh250 million while the County government will allocate a similar amount for it.
“The park will create employment for thousands of residents as it will promote the processing of locally produced agricultural product.”
The park will be established on the 1,400 acres of land ceded to the County government by Delmonte fruits processing company.
The President also commissioned ECDE feeding programme being implemented by the County government.
In the programme, about 42,000 ECDE learners each get a cup of porridge each day to enhance their nutrition and retain them in school.
He also launched the Smart Cities programme under which the county government has been upgrading infrastructure in major towns.