Stakeholders in the dairy sector want the ministry of Agriculture to develop a bill that will elevate hay as a key cash crop in Kenya and submit to the National Assembly to be debate it into law to compel the government to invest in its production as a key source of revenue for the state.
Farmers argue that hay has a turnaround return of Sh50 million annually and has a potential to rake in more revenue if the government invests intensively in essential research and extension services for hay production.
"Dairy farmers incur horrendous losses due to high costs of animal feed production, a move that leads to high cost of milk and dairy products annually," New Kenya Co-operative Creameries chairman, Matu Wamae said.
Speaking Tuesday in Nakuru at a Sh33 billion hay expo dubbed’ More Hay for more milk’, Wamae is called for increased investment in hay production to enable farmers venturing in the lucrative dairy sector find value for their money.
The chairman said the law will also ensure that the animal feed production and dairy sectors are regulated to guard farmers against purchasing substandard animal feeds sold by rogue merchants.
Wamae noted that the farmers need to be sensitised on up-to-date and profitable hay farming models for high yields saying inadequate extension services have led to under productivity in the dairy sector.
He called for increased engagement of the youth in dairy farming and pasture production as a way of creating direct and indirect job openings on the farms for hundreds of thousands of unemployed youth that migrate to cities for white collar jobs annually.
The New KCC chairman also used the occasion where CS for Agriculture Willy Bett had attended to unveil The new KCC/Hay Growers Association to advise dairy farmers to diversify their trade by investing in viable programs in the diverse dairy value chain for more profits and better livelihoods.
He cited the upcoming milk for schools program championed by some regional governments in the country saying the program will offer lucrative business opportunities to registered dairy cooperatives.
Wamae also asked farmers in organised groups to invest in transportation and cooling services of milk as a way of developing the dairy sector.
"My entity will support hay farmers in their quest to use simple and affordable machinery in hay and milk production for increased output to the market," TECHNOSERVE country director John Logan said.
New KCC Director in charge of raw milk and extension services appealed to farmers to shift to pasture production in a bid to boost milk production in the country.
He said milk processors in the country need a total of 1 million bales of hay annually on 3,000 acres of land to meet the rising demand of milk and dairy products in the country.