Over 2,000 Farmers Set to Benefit as State Unveils Sh28 Million Dairy Support Project

The government has intensified efforts to strengthen the dairy sector after handing over four modern milk coolers to dairy farmers’ cooperatives in Kajiado County under the Livestock Value Chain Support Project.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Principal Secretary for Livestock Development Jonathan Mueke said the cooling equipment will play a key role in reducing post-harvest milk losses, improving milk aggregation and enhancing the quality of milk produced by farmers.

Mueke noted that the project, valued at Sh28 million, is expected to directly benefit more than 2,000 dairy farmers across the county.

He added that the State Department for Livestock Development will also roll out training programs on quality milk production to help farmers earn better returns from the dairy business.

“We want farmers to produce high-quality milk that can compete in the market and fetch better prices. The government also plans to provide milk testing machines to measure protein, butterfat and bacteria content to improve quality and profitability,” said Mueke.

Kajiado Woman Representative Leah Sankaire welcomed the initiative, saying the milk coolers will greatly improve milk storage and support women involved in dairy farming across the county.

Sankaire said the four beneficiary cooperatives were selected after a thorough assessment to ensure equitable distribution of the equipment across Kajiado County.

The beneficiary cooperatives include Emparnat, Enchipai, Nasiru and Lenkism Dairy Farmers Cooperatives.

She reaffirmed her commitment to supporting dairy cooperatives through milk production, marketing and value addition programs aimed at improving livelihoods and boosting economic growth.

One of the beneficiaries, Jane Nanoyia, praised the project, saying the coolers will help reduce milk spoilage caused by inadequate storage facilities.

She added that farmers are now looking forward to training on value addition to enable them produce products such as yoghurt and butter for additional income.

The Livestock Value Chain Support Project is part of the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to strengthen the dairy value chain and improve the livelihoods of farmers across the country.