A milking machine.[FarmersTrend]

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The Government approved the importation of 25 million litres of milk.

The milk was imported in powder form after decrease in supply which, according to the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) was as a result of drought.

KDB managing director Margaret Kibogy said the decision to import the milk was based on the need to stabilise local prices which had gone up. 

“Due to the drought in 2017, the Government approved importation of milk powder to supplement the deficit in the local supply of milk,” said Ms Kibogy. 

“That said, we also did export three million kilogrammes of milk in the same year. Exports for the previous year 2016 was two million kilos, representing a 45 per cent growth,” she added. 

Livestock Principal Secretary Andrew Tuimur also painted a grim picture of the situation revealing that of the average 5.2 million litres of milk that Kenya produces annually, local processors can only manage to process 30 per cent.