The government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has handed over 12 bulk milk coolers to Nyeri dairy farmers to save the farmers from post-harvest loses resulting from poor milk processing and storage facilities.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the coolers will benefit some 3,600 farmers in Kieni and Mathira constituencies, facilitating processing of an additional 30,000 litres of milk daily valued at Ksh1.35 million.
According to Kagwe, this would increase the annual milk processing capacity to 10.95 million litres annually, earning farmers an extra Sh492.8 million.
The coolers are solar powered, and would save farmers Sh3.3 million in energy costs. The CS said the coolers would lead to the establishment of new aggregation hubs which would in turn stimulate the local economy, create new business and provide job opportunities.
”As the CS in charge of Agriculture and Livestock Development, my main responsibility is to ensure that money goes to the pocket of the farmers. I have come here today to ensure that you have coolers that will help you preserve the milk that was going to waste due to lack of storage facilities is. In my estimation, the amount of money lost by the farmers as a result was running into hundreds of thousands of shillings and therefore these coolers are going to remedy that and ensure you maximize profits from dairy farming,” the CS said.
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Kagwe also announced that the government is distributing subsidized farm inputs like fertilizer and seedlings, through the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information System (KIAMIS) to help farmers cut on the cost of production.
While urging framers to register under the programme, the CS said his ministry has so far delivered 3500 bags of subsidized fertilizer for Kieni farmers which would be used during the short rain season.
”A total of 835 farmers have already collected their bags of CAN top dressing fertilizer. I urge all farmers who are not yet registered under the government subsidy programme to enroll as soon as possible. Once registered, you will receive a mobile phone notification when input distribution begins. Registration is essential, as it enables the ministry to accurately assess the actual demand for agricultural inputs,” he said.
By Juma Ndigo
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