Dairy farmers across Trans Nzoia County have been urged to stop hawking milk and instead deliver it to New Kenya Co-operative Creameries (New KCC) to benefit from competitive prices and gain access to loans.
The Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF) branch in Kitale made the call, encouraging farmers to take advantage of the prompt payments and attractive rates currently offered by the state-owned processor.
The Chairperson of KENAFF's Trans Nzoia branch, Tom Nyagechanga, emphasised that milk hawking limits farmers’ access to loans from financial institutions, which could otherwise help expand their businesses.
Speaking in Kitale, Nyagechanga cited the current price of Sh50 per litre as a key motivator, noting that payments processed through banks create a financial trail that farmers can use to secure credit.
“We are urging dairy farmers to deliver their raw milk to New KCC because the state-owned processor is offering a competitive market rate. Since payments are processed through banks, farmers can use this to secure loans and boost their farming,” Nyagechanga said.
He also called on county governments to invest in setting up animal feed processing factories to reduce the high cost of feeds, which continues to burden dairy farmers.
“We are appealing to counties to set up animal feed processing factories so that farmers can access feeds at reasonable prices. The current cost is discouraging,” he added.
Nyagechanga commended New KCC for making timely payments, noting that this has encouraged farmers to increase milk production.
“I have visited the New KCC factory in Kitale, and farmers received Sh78 million for milk delivered in January, February and March. This is encouraging,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Federation raised concerns about the influx of cheap milk imports, saying they are undercutting local farmers and threatening domestic milk production.
“These cheap milk imports are discouraging local farmers from increasing production, and the government must step in,” Nyagechanga warned.