Milk production in Nakuru is set to increase through a plan to provide subsidized artificial insemination services.
The County Government’s plan targeting more than 200,000 farmers, is also aimed at improving beef animal breeds to boost meat production.
The County currently produces an average of 318 million litres of milk annually with an estimated turnover of Sh 14 billion.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Mr Leonard Bor, said the initiative to provide pedigree semen aims at giving dairy farmers a new improved breed that will increase milk production from the current seven litres to around 12 litres per cow per day, enabling farmers to earn more money from the sale of milk.
Mr Bor said with the cheap cost, they expect demand for the services to grow exponentially.
‘We have procured dairy cows’, beef cattle, and dairy goats’ semen which we will sell at Sh 800, down from the market price of Shs 2,000. During the first phase of the project 23 cooperative s
ocieties will benefit from this program which is being carried out through public-private partnerships,’ the CECM disclosed.
Already Sh10 million has been budgeted for the service this year.
The 23 dairy cooperative societies are drawn from Naivasha, Gilgil, Subukia, Bahati, Nakuru West, Rongai, Njoro, Molo, Kuresoi North, and Kuresoi South Sub-Counties.
‘The programme will help farmers increase their earnings. It is regrettable that farmers have not been able to optimize production due to poor breeds, but this is now set to be a thing of the past,’ said the CECM.
The county produces 25,000 to 30,000 litres of milk in a day.
Bor added that through the initiative, the Department’s sub-county officers have been provided with semen, nitrogen tanks, and technical expertise to offer AI services to dairy farmers.
Livestock Fisheries and Veterinary Services Chief Officer Dr. Michael Cheruiyot said that the program is a game changer since it will ensure a thriving dairy and beef industry.
Dr. Cheruiyot added t
he county will continue to have continuous capacity building training for the cooperatives to ensure success of the program.
He advised farmers to join the Nakuru County Cooperative Dairy Union as it brings together 15 giant and active cooperatives. The major aim of the Union, the Chief Officer noted, is to promote value addition and marketing for better prices.
‘The ultimate goal of this programme is to ensure that farmers increase their milk and meat production and get more value from it so that they can uplift their living standards,’ he said.
The initiative he said will significantly reduce the cost of AI services, while at the same time improving the quality of the breeds the farmers get; which in turn will translate into increased milk production when the calves mature to start milk production.
Among the cooperative societies set to benefit from the program include Biashara Wakulima, Inua Hustler, SuKa, Wecha, Acacia, Tulwobmoi-Ol Rongai, Kamarus, Elburgon Progressive, Lare Njoro, Njoro, Kamasis, Mu
kasu, Chemare, Olenguruone, Kuresoi, Cheseger, Sakaitim, Starlight, Soitaran, Tegati, Taita, Nakuru West and Keringet Foods Farmer Cooperative Societies.
Dr. Cheruiyot asked farmers to adopt zero grazing as a way of controlling pests and diseases.
Source: Kenya News Agency