Meru Central Dairy Cooperative Union (MCDCU) held its ninth farmers field day to celebrate achievements for the past one year and put up strategies that will take the sub-sector a notch higher in the coming years.
The MCDCU, one of the most prolific dairy unions in the country, has been doing well in recent years, and it is expected to be even better following interventions from the national government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock as well as the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises.
According to the Union’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Kenneth Gitonga, the union increased its productivity levels in the last one year and they were also targeting to achieve more in the coming years.
“Last year, our daily production of milk was 406,000 litres, but at the moment, we are producing 560,000 litres on a daily basis. Our next target is to produce one million litres daily following the government’s interventions,” said Mr. Gitonga.
He said some of the interventions by the government include the launch of a feed mill in Mitunguu, where the government has already released Sh100 million for its construction.
The mill, Mr. Gitonga added, will enable the union to manufacture animal feeds and sell them to members at an affordable price compared to the prevailing market prices.
MCDCU Chairman Simonn Kiruja said the union has also attracted many young people into dairy farming and has also employed more than 1,000 employees, a number set to increase with the expansion in production.
To enhance productivity even further, Mr. Kiruja urged the government to ensure that there were more coolers, especially in rural areas, in order to curb the issue of milk loss.
“Out of the milk our farmers produce, a lot of it is lost due to lack of proper facilities and equipment, including milking cans that are used for transporting milk to the collection centres.”
“If these issues are addressed, we will increase our productivity, which will have a ripple effect in terms of our economic returns,” said Mr. Kiruja.
Political leaders present from the Meru region called on the government to consider increasing the price of milk from the current Sh50 per kilogramme to at least Sh60 so that the farmers can reap more.
They also asked the government to ensure all feeder roads within the milk production areas were rehabilitated to enhance the smooth transportation of milk from farmers to factories.
By Dickson Mwiti
