The Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has been urged to crackdown on manufacturers of substandard animal feeds.
Speaking to the press in his office Monday, Githunguri Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society chairman Charles Mukora called on the Ministry of Livestock Principal Secretary Fred Segor to work with Kebs to rid the market of substandard livestock feeds.
He said the poor quality feeds were hurting dairy farmers hence they are not reaping optimal profits from their ventures.
He claimed that the co-operative society had sampled some of the feeds and taken them to laboratories, but the results were shocking because they were all found to be wanting.
The chairman said it is not acceptable for farmers to continue buying low quality feeds yet the issue of cost was the main challenge in dairy farming.
Meanwhile, PS Segor who spoke on the phone advised dairy farmers to make their own animal feeds to cut on costs and boost production.
While urging farmers to adopt dairy farming, the PS said the high cost of animal feeds was discouraging many from engaging in the venture yet it is profitable.
He called on manufacturers of animal feeds to adhere to the standards set by Kebs, adding that his ministry would work with standards body to get rid of substandard feeds in the market.
He said those who will be found culpable will be prosecuted.
He added that the ministry is engaging other stakeholders in dairy farming so as to come up with policy guidelines that will encourage healthy competitions in the sector to help boost farmers’ incomes.