Kenya’s largest milk processor Brookside Dairies has increased producer prices to Sh37 from Sh26 a litre.The Kenyatta family-linked said this would attract farmers to sign delivery contracts, enabling Brookside to meet local and foreign demand for its dairy products.
Milk procurement director John Gethi said the dairy was now a vibrant enterprise that required farmers to adopt modern fodder production and silage methods to ensure adequate feed during the dry season.
“The new rate is an incentive to
farmers to enable them cultivate fodder crops and pasture grasses to be used as animal feed during the dry season. We are urging all farmers to engage in sustainable dairy farming by reserving portions of their farms for cultivation of animal feeds,” said Mr Gethi.
The price strategy comes against the backdrop of emerging competition from farmer co-operatives investing in milk processing to cash in on the insatiable demand for dairy products.
Murang’a Creameries owned by Murang’a County is putting final touches to its newly imported milk plant that will process fresh milk as well as flavoured yoghurt for local sale and across East Africa.The county has been paying Sh35 per litre whereby farmers deliver to 35 county government-funded coolers strewn across all wards.
New KCC head of corporate affairs Stacy Too said her farm would maintain the price at Sh37 while reiterating that farmers must invest in fodder production and storage during the rainy season to secure ability to produce ample quantities of milk during the dry season.KCC, which has 22 factories and 30 coolers is investing in new plants across the country that will redouble the processing capacity from current 750,000 litres per day.
Despite the evidently rising milk deliveries their 55 cooling plants had capacity to receive all
milk from all contracted farmers with plans afoot to continue farmers training activities to boost milk production and dairy herd health.
