- Dairy farmers are seeking more reliable markets as payment challenges persist
- Rising feed costs are adding pressure on farmers already struggling with milk prices
- Government measures are being proposed to support dairy production and farmer incomes
Dairy farmers in Murang’a are abandoning cooperative societies for private milk buyers over prolonged payment delays and unstable prices, threatening efforts to strengthen the country’s dairy sector.
Farmers affiliated with the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (New KCC) say they have gone for up to three months without receiving payment for milk delivered to the corporation, leaving them struggling to meet the rising cost of feeding and maintaining their livestock.
Dairy farmers in Murang’a said the persistent delays had forced them to seek more reliable markets for their milk. They explained that cooperatives not only pay poorly but also delay payments, which in turn affects production since cows still need to be fed regardless of when farmers get paid.
They also called on the government to lower the cost of raw materials used in manufacturing animal feeds, describing it as one of the biggest challenges facing dairy farmers. They added that addressing this would help the country avoid the kind of milk shortages currently being experienced.
A farmer from Kamahuha in Maragua said unpredictable milk prices and delayed payments had pushed him away from cooperative marketing. While acknowledging the benefits of cooperative membership, he said the instability had ultimately convinced him to sell his milk privately instead. He urged the government to ensure timely payments to farmers while also supporting the production of affordable animal feeds to encourage further investment in dairy farming.
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Kangema MP Peter Kihungi has also called for urgent intervention, urging New KCC to clear its outstanding payments to farmers. He said the delays were placing additional pressure on farmers in the Mt Kenya region, who already face high production costs.
Kihungi noted that farmers work hard and deserve to enjoy the benefits of that effort, adding that months of missing payments only compound the challenges already facing the dairy sector.
Speaking during Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s tour of Murang’a on Wednesday, Kindiki assured farmers that the government would work to address challenges affecting the dairy value chain and ensure they receive their dues on time.
The Deputy President also announced a government subsidy on sexed semen technology as part of efforts to boost dairy production. The technology, which ordinarily costs about Ksh8,000, is now available to farmers at a subsidised price of Ksh1,000. He added that the technology increases the likelihood of producing female calves, which would raise milk production in the long run.
By Lizzy Aluga
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