Consumer prices of fresh milk have soared in Gatundu North following an acute shortage of the commodity that has been attributed to extended dry weather in the region.
The intense dry spell witnessed in the region for the last two and a half months that has wiped out green pasture for dairy cattle.
Gatundu North deputy livestock officer Morris Kigo said a litre of fresh milk was retailing at Sh54 up from Sh35.
According to Kigo, the sub county has been exporting milk to other counties in the previous months but the current production is even posing a deficit to residents who throng milk ATMs for purchases.
The region has been exporting milk to Gatundu South and Thika West regions which was earning the sub county revenue as well improving livelihood among the livestock farmers.
Speaking from his office in Kamwangi, Kigo noted that a programme launched by the area MCAs of buying farmers dairy cattle is expected to boost milk production in the area.
He encouraged farmers with indigenous cows to replace them with grade cows that are able to survive on a small piece of land through zero grazing.
He underscored that farmers needed to continually purchase county provided livestock feeds at subsidized cost to avoid making losses from scarcity of feeds.