Board to set minimum returns for milk

The government intends to introduce a minimum guarantee price for the produce as part of ensuring stability in the dairy sector, Kenya Dairy chair Genesio Mugo has disclosed.

He said this will ensure the farmers get a constant income regardless of the season. Speaking during a tour in Murang’a, Mugo said this will also help the farmers increase their production and meet the demand in the market.

He said the current production nationally stands at 5.2 billion litres of milk adding that this can be doubled.

“The government will fix the minimum price for the milk in the market and this will cushion the farmers from fluctuating prices” he said.

Currently, farmers sell their milk at Sh50 per litre and receive an average of Sh45 per litre after deductions by their dairy co-operatives.

The chairman said the dairy sector largely contributes to economic growth pointing out that it generates about Sh200 billion per year.

Kiambu, the largest milk producing county, averages 140 million litres annually with each cow producing about 12.6 litres per day against a national average of 10.1 litres per cow. Nyandarua is the second and Murang’a comes in third with 85 million litres per year.