Higher prices of feeds affecting dairy farmers

Nakuru, Wednesday, April 19, 2023   

K.N.A  By Veronica Bosibori

The ever-increasing prices of animal feeds have negatively impacted the small-scale dairy farmers, who produce between six to eight liters of milk per day since they can hardly make any profit, due to the high inputs. 

The Chairman of Small-Scale farmers in Nakuru County, Bernard Mwenje, said unlike in the past when dairy farming was a lucrative business venture in the County over the years, the sector has been clouded with many challenges. 

While speaking today at a workshop in Lanet, he appealed to the government to do everything possible to ensure that feeds are affordable, otherwise, a number of farmers who own three to five cows are currently making minimal profits.  

Mwenje said although there is a high demand for milk products in the country the endeavor has been on a downward spiral, leaving most of the small-scale farmers at the crossroads. 

Also, he said a number of the farmers lamented of lack of government support in resuscitating the industry that was once the pride of the county adding that for many years families educated and constructed houses using profits from the sale of milk, but that was no longer possible. 

 He noted that unless the government intervenes small-scale dairy farmers were likely to abandon the trade and leave it for only the large-scale farmers, who own large tracks of land for grazing the animals.

Courtesy K.N.A