Dairy farmers in Nakuru County earned a daily revenue of Sh1.9 million last year from raw milk sales to processor Brookside.
A total of Sh685 million was paid to farmers in the eight sub-counties of Nakuru during the year, underscoring the important role of the sub-sector to the economy of the devolved unit.
Despite challenges in milk production witnessed last year as a result of disruptions by the Covid-19 pandemic, the payouts grew by 2 per cent over similar earnings in 2019. John Gethi, Brookside’s director of milk procurement and manufacturing said the payout meant a daily revenue inflow of Sh1.9 million to farming households in the eight sub-counties of Nakuru.
He attributed the growing fortunes for dairy farmers in Nakuru to a vibrant dairy co-operative movement in the area.
Nakuru, he added, is reaping the benefits of one of the most vibrant dairy co-operative movements in the country.
“The dairy groups have contributed to the success of the sector, with an increasing number of farmers opting to not only take up dairy farming as a business activity but also to further invest in farm improvements,” Gethi said at the processor’s Nakuru raw milk bulking station.
Market leadership
He added that the processor was keen to consolidate its market leadership in the central Rift through aggressive farmer outreach programmes, including ensuring that payments to farmers remained regular and guaranteed.
“By regularly paying for raw milk delivered to us, we are making our contribution towards supporting various mechanisms the country has put in place to ensure that the food distribution systems continued to operate with minimum disruptions,” Gethi said.
He said the processor rolled out an aggressive farmer empowerment programme that saw it partner with over 30 co-operative societies in Nakuru county, adding that group leaders of the societies underwent training on governance in 2019.