• CS also warned those trading with illegal imports in Mombasa and Eastleigh among others to desist from such illegal activities.
• He added that in order to streamline the operations of the dairy sector for the mutual benefit of all players, the ministry has developed a set of New dairy industry regulations.
Image: FILE
Agriculture CS Peter Munya has warned unscrupulous traders against illegal milk imports through porous border points.
Munya raised the concern of illegal importation of dairy products through the porous border points of Lodwar, Kacheliba and Ororo.
He also warned those trading with illegal imports in Mombasa and Eastleigh among others to desist from such illegal activities.
“I further wish to put on notice dairy dealers adulterating milk and using non-food grade containers and milk producers who are not observing withdrawal periods after animal treatment, and those using poor quality and unsafe ingredients in the manufacture of feeds that the government will catch up with them very soon,” he said.
He spoke on Wednesday during the launch of the national dairy laboratory at the Kenya Dairy Board Laboratory ground in Kabete.
He added that in order to streamline the operations of the dairy sector for the mutual benefit of all players, the ministry has developed a set of New dairy industry regulations.
“The regulations are at the Attorney General’s office for clearance and onward transmission to the Government Printers for publishing anytime this week,” said the CS.
The regulations, he said, are intended to address a myriad of challenges facing the sector players along the value chain and whose implementation will now be anchored in law.
“I am a firm believer in structured solutions that have a basis in law for the protection of the vulnerable Kenyan farmer and business trader. I will soon undertake countrywide meetings with dairy farmers to sensitize on these regulations,” said Munya.
He said the Ministry is aware that the cost of milk production is high compared to other countries in the region.
This, he said, is attributed mainly to the high cost of feeding and inefficiencies at the farm level.
“My ministry with other stakeholders are in discussions aimed at availing quality feeds at competitive prices. We will also continue to petition the national treasury to look into the issue of tax regimes and other incentives which will help reduce the cost of production and processing and thus make the sector more viable,” said Munya.
He said support for the industry will translate into real and better economic gains to the Kenyan farmer and dairy businesses and hence have happy families able to educate their children and live decent lives.
“It is a sector that can eradicate poverty. It will also create more jobs for our youth through mechanized farming hence ultimately boost our economy,” he said.
Munya said the lab will enhance the Kenya Dairy Board has the capacity to conduct quality surveillance for enhanced quality and safety compliance.
“With the operationalization of the laboratory, the government’s Big 4 Agenda will be achieved through enhanced quality food and nutritional security, increased manufacturing through processing, value addition, traceability, product diversification and market penetration,” he said.
According to the Kenya Dairy Board, Kenya has a vibrant dairy industry which contributes to an estimated four per cent to the national Gross Domestic Product.
The dairy industry provides livelihoods to 1.8 million smallholder farmers and is a source of employment to more than 1.2 million people.
Margaery Kibogy KDB managing director said the annual national milk production is estimated at 5.5 billion litres.
70 per cent of this production coming from cattle, 17 per cent from camel, five per cent from goats and two per cent from sheep.
“The national consumption is projected to grow at six per cent annually owing to increased population and an increasing middle-income group. This will ensure efficient utilization of installed processing capacities in the country which is currently at a low of 41 per cent,” she said.
She said this is a clear indication that the current growth in production is not in tandem with the increased demand for milk in the country.
“Deliberate efforts must therefore be put in place to ensure the country produces enough to meet and surpass this demand. We must ensure that the country is self-sufficient to avoid over-reliance from other markets,” she said.
Munya said the Ministry will embark on milk production re-engineering for the end benefit of the farmer.
“If the yield is good and of good quality, the return will be a good one too for the farmer no matter the size of his farm or number of animals,” he said.
The CS encouraged farmers to increase their uptake of artificial insemination-AI services.
He said the Ministry will institute animal breeding programmes through KAGRIC and other partners so that the farmers improve the quality of their animals for better yields.