More pain as milk prices skyrocket
By Mathew.Ndungu, March 31, 2022As Kenyans grapple with the high cost of living and drought, milk scarcity continues to bite with the high price of the commodity rising on a daily basis, promising more pain to consumers.
A spot check by People Daily in supermarkets, retail shops and kiosks yesterday revealed low stocks for long-life milk in most outlets.
Nevertheless, the prices for both long-life and whole milk had drastically increased with customers picking fewer packets than previously.
At some supermarkets, warning signs had been placed directing customers not to pick more than four packets to enable others to also enjoy some good refreshment, the pricing that comes with it notwithstanding.
For instance, a long-life Tuzo brand that initially cost Sh50 was yesterday retailing at Sh60 in various shops while most of the brands retailed whole milk at Sh50 and Sh55.
Dairy farmers blamed the situation on increased prices for animal feeds, a situation they blamed on high import duty and failure by the government to standardise prices.
Kenya banned milk imports from neighbouring Uganda following claims that the product is smuggled from third-party countries as powder and re-formed before it is brought to the country as fresh.
In an apparent pointer to a possible further increase in the cost of living for Kenyans who are yet to heal from Covid-19 aftershocks, low production of raw milk from impoverished farmers has resulted in the crisis that could take time to resolve.
Unbearable costs
Margret Njeri, a farmer at Mutomo village in Gatundu South constituency and who owns four dairy cows, says production has significantly reduced from 10 liters per day to about seven and below since she reduced the scale of feeds given to the animals.
“I used to get up to 14 liters of milk from one cow but the production has reduced to six in some animals because we have reduced the number of feeds due to unbearable costs. My four dairy animals take a sack of feeds in four days and each is costs Sh2,500. We cannot afford the increased production cost,” she said.
Njeri said with the increased prices, most dairy farmers are opting to feed their animals on banana branches, Napier grass, barley, common duckweed birdsfoot trefoil among other crops.
As a result of inadequate nutrition in the crops, Njeri regretted that their animals have been suffering from low live-weight gains, infertility and low milk yields among other health issues.
Most dairies, farmers said, have also discouraged their farming activities as most of them are purchasing the precious commodity at Sh35 per liter.
“We no longer sell our milk to the dairies. Milk users at the village level are buying at better prices and having considered all the factors, we are forced to sell to neighbours who now pay monthly,” Mary Magiri, another farmer said.