Meru and Murang’a counties to partner to empower dairy farmers

Meru and Murang’a Counties leadership are set to partner in a bid to empower dairy farmers in the two regions.

The leaders pledged to work together in strengthening the dairy sector following a benchmarking visit by a Murang’a delegation led by Governor Irungu Kang’ata to the Meru Dairy Cooperative Union plant.

The visit, which brought together cooperative leaders and farmers from the two counties, was seen as the beginning of a new partnership aimed at addressing common challenges, improving milk prices, and enhancing farmer empowerment across the regions.

Speaking at the union plant in Meru County, Meru Dairy Cooperative Union Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Gitonga said the visit had created room for collaboration and knowledge sharing, noting that farmers in both counties face similar challenges.

“We are very thankful that they have chosen to come so that we can discuss and see how we can help each other in this milk business. We will also see how we can have partnership so that the farmer can be empowered,” said Gitonga.

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He added that the discussions provided hope that Meru and Murang’a could pool resources and ideas to tackle the high production costs, unstable markets, and the need for stronger cooperative models.

Gitonga also commended Governor Kang’ata for taking a personal interest in strengthening the livelihoods of farmers.

Governor Kang’ata said his delegation’s visit was motivated by Meru’s success in paying farmers Ksh 50 per litre for milk, a rate he described as both admirable and desirable for Murang’a farmers.

He noted that his county would work towards replicating Meru’s model in order to improve returns for local farmers.

“We have come as a delegation from Murang’a County to study matters on dairy farming. This is because Meru County is paying the farmer Ksh 50 per litre which is something that we people from Murang’a also desire to achieve,” said Kang’ata.

He applauded Meru Dairy Cooperative Union for its efficiency and farmer centered practices, adding that Murang’a would adopt the lessons learned.

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Kangata emphasized that unity among stakeholders was critical in ensuring that farmers reaped maximum benefits from the sector.

Nonetheless, Murang’a County Creameries Cooperative Union chairperson Edmund Ngaruiya also praised the visit terming it as an important milestone for farmers in his county.

He said the benchmarking exercise had exposed them to practical strategies that could help cut down the cost of production and guarantee higher milk payments.

“We have gone to different sectors in this plant and we have learnt much about dairy farming. The most important lesson we have discovered is that there is a great secret in working together so that we can cut down the costs of production and continue doing well. We will emulate what we have learnt so that we can also be able to pay more than Ksh 50 per litre,” said Ngaruiya.

By John Majau.

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