The New Kenya Cooperative Creameries and Hay Growers Association have hatched an ambitious deal that will enable 60,000 dairy farmers in the country and benefit from high quality hay for increased quality milk production in the country.
New KCC director of Raw milk and Extension Services Dominic Menjo said the programme to be officially unveiled by Agriculture CS Dr Willy Bett on Tuesday in Nakuru aims at enriching the country`s dairy production value chain.
"The programme is expected to increase the farmers' net output to bridge the widening two million litres milk demand deficit annually," he said.
The ambitious programme will cost the two entities Sh30 billion which Menjo said will fund extension services, soil testing and maintenance programmes, assorted fertiliser and disease resistant and high yield hay seeds for hay farmers.
"The programme's objective is to elevate the current two litre production at an average farm to 30 liters of milk a day, a move he observes will put small scale dairy farmers on the pathway to improving their livelihoods while enabling counties to depend on the fledgling dairy sector for sustainable economic growth," the director added.
The programme will see more youth and women venture into hay production and dairy farming as it aims at lowering costs of farming hay in high potential areas of the country.
"The programme is good. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett should consider subsidising on assorted fertiliser, hay seeds and pesticides for hay farmers as incentives that he says will spur more farmers in to hay production for a vibrant dairy sector," Hay Growers Association chairman Nyangi Waweru said.
Kenya's dairy sector has in recent months been contending with soaring production costs during dry seasons, a move that has occasioned inadequate supply of milk among other dairy products.