The government is banking on regulations within the dairy sector to turn around fortunes for farmers across the country who have been hit with dwindling returns occasioned by the high cost of production. Livestock Principal Secretary Harry Kimutai said the ongoing formulation of new dairy regulations is geared towards the establishment of a level playing field to cushion farmers from factors leading to market instability. “Some of the new developments is the recent disbursement of Kshs 500 million towards the modernization of the New KCC and regulation of cheap milk from Uganda,” said Kimutai while at the Kitale National Polytechnic.
He was addressing a public participation forum to generate views on formulation of new dairy regulations which will replace old regulations which were formulated in 1958. The process was repeated after an outcry from farmers last year.
The Principal Secretary said the Agriculture Ministry is also synchronizing animal diseases control programmes across the country to avoid a past challenge where the initiative has not been efficient. “We are working with the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute to ensure each County has been supplied with enough vaccines for disease control. We are also working with County governments,” he said.
He disclosed that the government has put in place measures that will help eradicate the locust menace in the country calling upon the public to offer correct information through County governments on the presence of pests so that immediate action can be taken
He said the government has been working with various drug firms and is ready for any eventualities stating it has trained the National Youth Service personnel who are ready to take up the responsibilities of spraying the locusts within the area of infestations
He defended Agriculture CS Peter Munya’s assertion when he told the public that the desert locusts are old and can’t harm the crops claiming it’s information received from the experts who have been following the life cycle of locusts.
Trans Nzoia County Agriculture and Livestock CEC Mary Nzomo challenged farmers in the region to grow quality
pasture and fodder for quality feeding to sustain milk production. “The County government of Trans Nzoia has laid focus on improving the
pedigree of dairy animals through artificial insemination services and boosting of technology towards animal feeds production,” said Mrs.
Nzomo.