New KCC sponsors 88 farmers for tour to boost production
A dairy farmer pours milk into a weighing bucket at Kaheti milk selling point in Nyeri on May 16, 2016. New KCC Managing Director Nixon Sigey said most dairy farmers rely on pasture from fields to feed their animals, but it is in scarce during droughts. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The group is expected to borrow best farming practices from a country that has transformed its dairy sector despite its dry climate.
- It is expected to address low cow productivity in small holder production system associated with bad feeds, poor breeds and breeding management and disjointed service delivery.
New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC)has sponsored 88 of its farmers for a one-week study tour in Israel to learn modern technology in the dairy industry with a view to increasing yields.
The group is expected to borrow best farming practices from a country that has transformed its dairy sector despite its dry climate.
Many dairy producers in Kenya are subsistence farmers despite having the ability to produce more milk for commercial purposes.
The farmers will learn how the Israeli dairy industry uses modern techniques to reach production of 12,000 kilogrammes per cow throughout the year, against an average of 2,500 that farmers in Kenya get.
Processors are betting on training farmers to boost production, especially during dry spells when milk volumes drop drastically, affecting supplies to factories.
New KCC Managing Director Nixon Sigey said most dairy farmers rely on pasture from fields to feed their animals, but it is in scarce during droughts.
“We are now focusing on training to improve productivity and ensure farmers understand that dairy farming is a serious commercial entity and not a pastime business, and this can be achieved through such training,” Mr Sigey said.
He said farmers would get an opportunity to learn and emulate feed preservation techniques used in Israel.
They will also get to know modern, technological and efficient ways of dairy farming. The tour was organised by the New KCC extension wing, Platinum Ultra Events Ltd and Israel Dairy School.
It is expected to address low cow productivity in small holder production system associated with bad feeds, poor breeds and breeding management and disjointed service delivery.
“It’s expected that the tour will expose the farmers to technologies that will address these challenges and take leadership in moving the industry to the next level. Lessons from Israel will be of great relevance to the participants considering that it is a leading dairy country,” Mr Sigey added.
