Boon for farmers as state distributes Sh1.5-billion milk coolers countrywide

MUOKI CHARLES-KNA 

The Government has embarked on distributing milk coolers worth Sh1.5 billion in an effort to boost production and improve milk prices.

The Principal Secretary for Livestock Development, Jonathan Mueke, said that the 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000-litre milk coolers, delivered through the government’s Livestock Value Chain Support Project (LVCSP), would be distributed across 41 milk-producing counties.

The coolers are expected to reduce post-harvest losses and maintain high milk quality. Speaking after delivering a 5,000-litre milk cooler to the Ndarugu Dairy Cooperative Society in Gatundu South Sub-County, Mueke said the intervention is a vital step in building resilience and competitiveness in the country’s dairy sector.

It offers hope to thousands of small-scale farmers seeking to secure better livelihoods through improved production, quality, and market access.

“This is a direct investment in our farmers’ prosperity and food security. By providing modern milk cooling technology, we are reducing wastage, raising quality standards, and opening up better market opportunities,” Mueke said.

He also noted that the government is procuring over 20,000 stainless steel milk cans to facilitate the safe and efficient transportation of milk from farms to processors. 

He added that the stainless steel cans, procured from Poland, would replace the plastic cans currently used by many dairy farmers to deliver milk to cooperative societies, which compromise milk quality.

“Many farmers take their milk to the processor using plastic bottles which compromise milk quality,” he said.

Through improved milk quality, the PS said the Ministry of Agriculture has introduced a quality-based payment programme where farmers who deliver high quality milk are paid an additional Sh10 per litre.

The PS said the focus on maintaining high milk quality would make it easy for processors to add value to produce butter, cheese or yoghurt for export.

“The milk processors and stainless milk cans will help in ensuring the quality of milk is not compromised. Additionally, we are in talks with milk processors where those whose milk has high content of butter fat and protein will get another additional Sh10.

"We have done a pilot in two processors, and the report is that some farmers are getting Sh70 per litre after delivering quality milk,” Mueke said.

Other efforts of improving milk quality include mass vaccination of dairy cows, with the PS saying the exercise is ongoing in Laikipia and Meru Counties. He added that the exercise would be launched in other counties in the coming months.