Multi-million Murang'a creameries re-opens after one year closure

@Alicewangechi

Murang’a dairy farmers are now able to sell value-added milk products just a few months after they took over the multi-million Murang’a County Creameries.

Established in 2018 by the county government to empower farmers, the plant that saw dairy farmers earn Sh40 per litre of milk, was closed in 2022 by Governor Irungu Kang’ata.

Kang’ata said the Sh500 million plant could not sustain itself since the milk supply was too low and debts too high.

The factory is currently managed by Murang’a County Creameries Union, an amalgamation of 34 dairy co-operative societies.

Before its commissioning by former Governor Mwangi wa Iria, processors bought milk from farmers for as little as Sh18 per litre.

The plant currently has more than 10,000 small scale dairy farmers who supply about 40, 000 litres of milk everyday.

It is now producing long-life milk and yoghurt with the brand name County Fresh.

Kang’ata said the plant owes farmers and suppliers about Sh100 million.

“We are asking those who are owed by the factory to give it about one year or so to stabilise,” he said.

Kang’ata promised to support the plant’s operationalisation with Sh40 million. Of this money, Sh15 million has already been channeled to its management.

Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui said the national government will also support the factory.

This, he said, is part of the state’s plan to support dairy cooperatives through incentives aimed at boosting milk production.

Chelugui said the county’s milk production is too low compared to the high demand for dairy products both locally and internationally.

In the country, dairy farmers produce about 5.2 billion litres of milk per year, a number that the government plans to double to 10 billion.

“We plan to do this by supporting dairy cooperatives with subsidies, extension services and quality animal feeds. The county has a large market for dairy products in countries such as Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Egypt,” he said.

Chelugui said a policy paper that seeks to stop payment delays by processors is being drafted.

He said there is need for dairy co-operatives to venture in value addition to increase farmers’ returns while expanding the market for their produce.

“Dairy Co-operatives are instrumental in the production, processing and marketing of dairy products and help consolidate the produce, giving farmers more power to negotiate with processors,” Chelugui said.

“Co-operatives create jobs and increase their members’ returns once they embark on value addition. Every farmer should ensure they are a member of a co-operative because there are so many benefits that include marketing their produce collectively.”

Chelugui challenged the county government to seek partners and start producing high quality fodder for dairy farmers.

This, he said, will mitigate shortage of animal feeds with farmers complaining over poor quality feeds flooding the market.

The county has already started a programme that sees farmers in lower, drier areas engaged in planting Boma Rhodes to produce hay.

The programme is aimed at ensuring dairy farmers have sufficient fodder while providing an income to farmers from semi-arid areas.