Sh300m dairy farming revival success
What you need to know:
- Governor Mwangi Wa Iria said dairy farming in the region can be grown to hit an annual income Sh20 billion and be raise at least two billion shillings as tax for the county government.
- The drive will target 45,000 dairy farmers in the eight sub-counties in a programme that will be executed in partnership with the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari.)
- The county boss said that his vision was for the county to have a milk processing plant by 2016, which he said, would benefit farmers with maximised returns.
The county government of Murang’a has successfully rolled out a Sh300 million programme to revive its dairy sector in a bid to economically empower local breeders.
The programme has over the past six months helped breeders in the county access subsidised Artificial Insemination (AI) services at a cost of Sh500 and Sh600.
Farmers who take their cows to AI centres built across the county pay Sh500 for the service whereas those who opt for a call-in service right in their homes pay Sh600.
Governor Mwangi Wa Iria said dairy farming in the region can be grown to hit an annual income Sh20 billion and be raise at least two billion shillings as tax for the county government.
He said the county had since procured 50 motorbikes to be used by veterinary officials to oversee the implementation of the programme.
A further Sh141m will be used to establish a pedigree breeds’ demonstration farm in where farmers can acquire quality heifers, Mr Mwangi said, adding that there will be prize bulls that will be used for extraction of semen.
LOW QUALITY BULLS
The county boss said the move is expected to curb rampant cases of inbreeding and use of low quality bulls which lead to poor breeds that have contributed to a 40 per cent loss in earnings.
Mr Mwangi said breeders will save at least 23 per cent of their AI expenses following the subsidies.
“Private practitioners have been charging between Sh1,500 and Sh3,000 for AI services per heifer. This is despite the fact that one dose of semen at the national reservoir costs Sh280. The additional costs have been justified by the practitioners as logistical and preservation costs,” the governor said.
He noted that expected results were improved milk yields and income for the breeders to be experienced within the next two years.
“We expect to record an increase in milk yields to two million litres per day from the 200,000 dairy cows Murang’a has on average. So far, our production capacity stands at 600,000 litres per day,” the county boss said.
SPECIAL FODDER SEEDS
Mr Mwangi announced that the county government had rolled out yet another programme aimed at distributing special fodder seeds to dairy farmers. The extra feeds are expected to help increase milk production.
The drive will target 45,000 dairy farmers in the eight sub-counties in a programme that will be executed in partnership with the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari.)
The beneficiary farmers will receive varying volumes of Kakamega One and Kakamega Two fodder seedlings in a revolving project.
“Further, the county has since procured 35 milk coolers to help farmers preserve their milk hence elongating shelf-life in the market.
“The coolers will also enable farmers to be selling their afternoon and evening milk as opposed to the current situation where farmers have only been selling their morning milk,” the governor said.
The county boss said that his vision was for the county to have a milk processing plant by 2016, which he said, would benefit farmers with maximised returns.
