Milk Production in Kiambu County has received a major boost after the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) launched a milk processing plant in Lari Sub County.
Gatamaiyu Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society received an Enterprise Development Grant totaling Sh8,400,000 form NARIGP for upgrading of the dairy plant through milk pasteurization.
In 2019, NARIGP a World Bank and national government funded project identified the plant as a key beneficiary for the grant and have since been going through robust transformation until its launch last week.
Lari Sub County is among six sub counties in Kiambu County that include Limuru, Kikuyu, Gatundu South, Gatundu North mapped by NARIGP due to their Dairy value chain.
Speaking during the launch Kiambu Governor James Nyoro said through NARIGP project interventions, the dairy has procured and installed a 1000 litres per hour milk pasteurizer, a 1000 litres per hour high pressure homogenizer, a chiller, hot water boiler and an air compressor.
“I encourage more dairy farmers to join the milk society and make good use of these machines as it is able to process 1000 litres of milk per hour hence boosting business and also uplift farmers’ lives financially” said Nyoro
“Lari Sub County is known as a dairy zone and my administration has a clear strategy and programmes on value addition that will ensure farmers have more money in their pockets. I am keen as well on strengthening cooperative societies to help protect farmers from exploitation” the Governor added
On his part Gatamaiyu Dairy Farmers Cooperation Society Chairperson Gaudencia Gatho lauded the national government project saying the upgrading of the plant has led to robust recovery and growth of the Dairy society
“As a result of these interventions, the dairy has registered 674 new members leading to a current total of 1,200 active members therefore experiencing tremendous increase in milk volumes as well as their sales turn-over” said Gatho.
The chairman added that due to the increased milk volume the market has expanded from hawking to processors.
“Before NARIGP intervention our daily milk collection was 5,700 litres we have since doubled the figures to 10,400 litres and still rising by the day” added the chairman.
As per the Dairy cooperative audited accounts the annual sales turnover for the cooperative has since increased from Sh74 million to Sh130 million during the 2020-22 period.
By Grace Naishoo
