The dairy cow project also supplements school milk programmes for early childhood development centers to provide nutrition to pupils and alleviate hunger. [Photo/technoserve.org]

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The Kilifi County government plans to invest Sh10 million in the construction of a dairy milk collection and cooling plant in Gede constituency.

Once completed, the plant will provide a ready and reliable market for farmers in the area as well as enhance their earnings.

Kilifi County has been grappling with challenges of food insecurity as well as high poverty levels. The county government has however been rolling out long term projects to address the situation.

One of the initiatives is the dairy cattle project which promotes dairy farming as a business to improve the livelihoods of the people.

The county has been distributing heifers to farmers mostly women who have formed groups to empower them economically.

So far, over 134 heifers have been dispersed within the 35 wards at a cost of Sh18 million.

The county also plans to construct a milk collection and cooling plant in Gede at a cost of Sh10 million to ensure farmers find a ready market for their surplus milk and reduce cases of milk going stale due to unreliable market and inadequate storage facilities.

The dairy cow project also supplements school milk programmes for early childhood development centers to provide nutrition to pupils and alleviate hunger.

Agricultural extension officers are being trained on management of the dairy cows to ensure the project is successful.