Kiambu County government has launched an ambitious plan to boost dairy farming in the area as it is the backbone of the county’s economy.
In an effort to see more milk production in the highland areas of the county, the government has bought three milk coolers to enhance storage of milk before dispatch to the creameries.
Speaking during the launch of two of the milk coolers worth Sh6 million in Githunguri on Monday, deputy governor Gerald Githinji said the county government was keen to ensure commercialisation of agriculture in the region. Githinji said the county government had put up policies that would improve agricultural production and value chain addition to farmers.
He added that the county government had spent over Sh15 million on purchase of six milk coolers.
County executive for Livestock and Fisheries Dr Monica Waiganjo urged farmers in the region to take advantage of the new coolers to produce more milk and improve their earnings.
She said the County government had employed extension officers to help farmers in the region and teach them modern methods of farming. The initiative, spearheaded by the county government in partnership with the Agricultural Sector Development Support Program (ASDSP), sought to promote breeding of Friesian cows.
She added that dairy farmers in the county will benefit from a cow breeding program aimed at improving the quality of stock reared in the region.
ASDSP program officer John Waweru said 311 groups of farmers would receive Friesian breed of cows noting that they were of better economic value and would help improve the farmers’ livelihoods.
He said the Sh3 million program intended to spread the breed across the county so that farmers could reap better returns from the venture and in turn raise the region’s economy.