Up to 46 coolers with a capacity to store 3,000 litres of milk will be distributed to farmers cooperative society in Uasin Gishu county in areas with the capacity to produce at least 500 litres of milk per day.
Uasin Gishu county government has already put up 46 cooler structures in readiness to receive the coolers.
On Wednesday, the first batch of coolers was delivered to Keitich Farmers Cooperatives Societies (FCS) in Kesses Sub-county and Ndubeneti FCS in Kapseret Sub-county.
Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Chief Officer Dr Victoria Tarus speaking during the presentation of one such milk coolers to Ndubeneti FCS at Kapseret sub-county termed the plan as a government ‘intervention’ aimed at minimising wastage and boosting dairy farming.
“It is government support to farmers. We have set up the facilities, the FCS will ensure there is running water and installation of three-phase electricity and provide security for the facility. The tanks will go a long way towards ensuring they have market access and quality will be good,” said Dr Tarus.
The tanks will belong to the farmers’ cooperative societies on behalf of the Government.
“The coolers will reduce post-harvest losses, especially milk produced in the evening. Once they fill the tanks, processors will collect the milk easily and the FCS can determine the pricing,” she said.
The Chief Officer further said other interventions were also being enhanced to ensure livestock farming remains a profitable venture.
"We want to train our farmers on fodder, silage and cost-cutting in production to ensure that during dry season milk production remains high," she said.
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