CS Chelugui: State to convert excess milk to powder due to increased production

Cooperatives and Micro and Small Enterprise Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui has said the government has put in place measures to convert excess milk to powder and long-life milk.

The CS said the measures will be taken following excess production of milk as a result of long rains.

"The rains have increased milk production which is estimated to exceed 50 million liters by January 2024. The measure will mitigate the losses at the farm level and stabilise the milk prices in the country," he said. 

"The country has been experiencing heavy rains in the milk-producing areas in the recent past and is projected to continue till early next year."

This is among the many interventions aimed at ensuring a stable and prosperous dairy subsector.

Chelugui said the process will be as a national strategic food reserve through New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (NKCC).

"The powder milk will be reconstituted during the dry season to meet the milk shortfall, as well as export the surplus," the CS noted. 

He further encouraged the farmers to continue increasing their milk production with an assurance that the government will procure all the milk produced during this glut period.

Further, the CS said the state will establish a milk price-stabilising fund of close to Sh3 billion.

The funds will be used to stabilise the price of the commodity in the market and ensure that all the milk is collected from farmers.

“Stabilisation fund is an intervention the government takes to absorb extra milk. It does not take away the respective dairy process of milk," Chelugui said.

The new KCC is 100 per cent owned by the government.

"As soon as we get to January, even the private processors will be free to buy the same dry milk at a price the regulator will provide,” said Chelugui.

Currently, milk production has gone up because of the good weather the country is enjoying.

The CS said mopping up of excess milk is an activity the government has done before.

“This is not a new activity this could be the seventh intervention we are doing,” he said.