By Dennis Dibondo
Dairy farmers in Meru and the surrounding counties are set to benefit from reduced production costs following the commissioning of a modern animal feed mill by the government and the Meru Central Dairy Cooperative Union.
The newly established feed mill, located in Mitunguu, South Imenti Constituency, has already begun manufacturing animal feeds and is expected to significantly lower the cost of dairy farming while boosting milk production across the region.
The project was initiated in 2023 after the Meru Central Dairy Cooperative Union provided land and invested Sh200 million towards the construction of the facility. During the project's launch, President William Ruto pledged Sh100 million to support its establishment, a commitment the government has now fulfilled.
Speaking on Saturday during the commissioning of the facility, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announced that the government will inject an additional Sh100 million to finance the second phase of the project.
Kindiki said the feed mill will ease the burden on dairy farmers by making quality animal feed more affordable.
"The factory will sell dairy meal at a subsidized price of Sh2,800 per 50-kilogram bag compared to the current market price of about Sh3,200," he said.
He noted that lower feed costs will enable farmers to increase productivity and improve profitability.
The Deputy President spoke after commissioning the Meru Maziwa Millers animal feed plant before attending the 11th Annual Dairy Farmers Field Day at the Meru Showground.
Kindiki further highlighted other government interventions aimed at strengthening the dairy sector, including a substantial reduction in the cost of sexed semen.
"When President William Ruto assumed office, sexed semen cost farmers Sh7,000. Today it is available at Sh1,400, making quality breeding more accessible," he said.
He also announced that beginning August 1, dairy farmers supplying milk will receive Sh52 per litre, up from the current Sh50.
"This is part of the government's efforts to ensure farmers earn better returns from their hard work," he added.
Meru Central Dairy Cooperative Union Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Gitonga urged farmers to embrace modern dairy farming practices to increase milk production.
He said the cooperative has recorded remarkable growth over the past two years.
According to Gitonga, the number of registered farmers has increased from 11,012 in 2023 to more than 161,000, while daily milk intake has grown from 287,000 litres to 670,000 litres.
The number of affiliated dairy societies has also risen from 139 to 168 over the same period.
He added that the cooperative's annual sales have more than doubled, rising from Sh9.3 billion in 2023 to Sh20.1 billion last year, with projections indicating revenues could reach Sh25 billion this year.
Gitonga said the Meru Maziwa Millers facility has the capacity to manufacture feeds for dairy cattle, pigs and poultry.
He revealed that the second phase of the project will include the installation of an additional production line, while the third phase will focus on constructing silos and grain dryers to ensure adequate storage of raw materials.
"We are preparing to meet the growing demand not only from Meru but also from neighbouring counties such as Embu and Tharaka Nithi," he said.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the government is working to increase the availability of sexed semen as part of efforts to enhance dairy productivity nationwide.
Meanwhile, Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya attributed the collapse of many cooperatives to poor governance and mismanagement.
He said the government is finalizing a new Cooperative Bill that will strengthen regulation, improve accountability and restore confidence in the cooperative movement.
