More than 600 smallholder dairy farmers in Muhoroni Constituency are set to benefit from the installation of two solar‑powered milk coolers, part of a government programme designed to cut post‑harvest losses and expand market access in Kisumu County.
The coolers, each with a capacity of 1,000 litres, were handed over through a partnership between the State Department for Livestock Development and the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA). They will be installed at the Kisumu Dairy Development Centre (KDDC) in Nyangore Location, Chemelil Ward, and at the LBDA dairy unit in Tonde Location, Muhoroni/Koru Ward.
During the handover, Principal Secretary for Children Services Carren Ageng’o, representing Livestock Development PS Jonathan Mueke, described the facilities as more than storage units.
“These bulk milk coolers are not merely storage equipment; they are economic empowerment hubs that will transform milk into wealth.”
Principal Secretary for Children Services Carren Ageng’o
Ageng’o explained that the project is expected to aggregate up to 2,000 litres of milk daily, translating to more than 730,000 litres annually and an estimated Sh35.8 million in earnings for farmers each year. She noted that the intervention would significantly reduce spoilage during peak production seasons when farmers often suffer losses due to inadequate storage.
She urged farmers to register under cooperative societies to benefit from similar government programmes, stressing that collective marketing strengthens bargaining power and attracts investment. “If you are a single farmer, you may not benefit from what we are giving. But if you come together as groups and cooperatives, the government is supporting cooperative societies in a big way,” she said.
ALSO READ:
Governor Mutuma terms speeding in miraa transport ‘foolishness’, calls for reforms
Trade PS Regina Ombam echoed the call, urging farmers to join cooperatives to access government support and improve competitiveness in the dairy market.
The solar‑powered coolers come with a complete cold chain system, including storage tanks, solar panels, batteries and a 3 KVA inverter to ensure uninterrupted milk preservation even during power outages.
Officials noted that Muhoroni, once heavily reliant on sugarcane farming, has faced economic challenges following the decline of the sugar sector. The dairy initiative is expected to diversify household incomes and revitalize the local economy through increased milk production and processing.
Ageng’o added that the project would particularly empower women and youth, creating income‑generating opportunities through dairy farming and value addition ventures such as yoghurt processing. She emphasized that the government is keen on promoting grassroots economic transformation through agriculture and dairy value chains.
By Fredrick Odiero
Get more stories from our website: Sacco Review.
For comments and clarifications, write to: Saccoreview@
Kindly follow us via our social media pages on Facebook: Sacco Review Newspaper for timely updates
Stay ahead of the pack! Grab the latest Sacco Review newspaper!
