Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society, the manufacturer of Fresha milk products, has gotten an international market for their UHT milk and will be exporting 250,000 litres per month to Oman, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Speaking during the society’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Githunguri Stadium, Chairman George Kinuthia said that they have dispatched off 113,750 litres of UHT milk and will increase the export gradually.
“We decided to look for more market beyond East, Central and Africa at large and that is how we explored the possibility of selling milk to Saudi Arabia. We have already dispatched our first batch of milk,” he said.
He said that the agreement will see the society paid in dollars which will boost the Society’s growth.
The Society, which is the third largest milk processor in the country, saw an increase in total revenue from Ksh9.2 billion to Ksh9.9 billion and surplus before tax.
Its share capital increased during the year from Ksh589.1 million to Ksh607,9 million while members received a final dividend of Ksh158.2 million with each farmer getting Ksh1.80 per share.
Kinuthia called on the government to intervene on the huge debt owed to them by several supermarkets including Uchumi Supermarket standing at Ksh44.5 million, Nakumatt Supermarket at Ksh45 million, Naks Superstores Limited at Ksh16.9 million, Wonderland Foods at Ksh9.4 million, Saltes Supermarket at Ksh18.6 million, Tuskys Supermarket at Ksh68 million and Mulei Supermarket at Ksh13.2 million.
“These supermarkets owe us a lot of money and if this problem is not addressed, it will end up affecting the Society negatively,” he said.
The Society Supervisory Committee Chairman Joseph Karanja noted that membership has grown to 27,607 members up from 27,113 in the previous financial year.
They also have 87 milk collection points, 13 cooling centres, 59 stores and 1 warehouse in addition to 6 milk tankers collecting 265,000 litres of milk every day up from 236,000 litres of milk in he period under review.
“Our milk products have continued to gain popularity and the Society has ventured into new markets and is selling milk in areas such as Bosmar, Kakuma, Mpeketoni, Lamu Sambati and also overseas,” he said.
Last year the milk processor was awarded for being the most consistent in production and supply of milk by the Kenya Dairy Board. They were also awarded a trophy for being the best in value addition and innovation in Kiambu County during this year’s Ushirika Day celebration and also had the best cooperative movement stand during the Nairobi Agricultural Show this year.
By Felix Wanderi
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