Molo farm**s set to reap big from Sh4.5m milk cooler
Dairy farmers in Molo sub-County are set to benefit from a Sh4.5 million cooler system from the county government to help preserve and enhance sale of quality milk.
Yesterday, the Directorate of Livestock Production installed a 3,000 litre bulk milk cooler in Elburgon Ward to cushion producers from losses and spoilage cases.
Livestock Production Acting director, Nakuru County Virginia Ngunjiri, said project is intended to raise the financial capability of farmers and safeguard milk for the market.
She noted that the absence of adequate machinery had led to an increase of milk hawking with some informal traders adulterating their milk with substances not suitable for human consumption.
“As a county we have been promoting the chilling of milk so that the farmers are able to bulk chill to reduce the post-harvest losses to the farmers,” said Ngunjiri.
Boost preservation
According to Ngunjiri new milk handling technologies have already been launched across the county to boost preservation and bulking of milk thus boosting farmers’ profits.
“The Bulk Milk Cooler and its components cost was Sh4.5 million with the components including a 500 litre Dump Tank, a pair of Compressors, a 3000 Ltr Milk Cooler Tank and a Digital Weighing Scale,” she said.
She revealed that the county had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Elbam Cooperative Society to ensure maintenance, security and operationalisation of the facility. According to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), milk spoilage in the country hits an all-time high, especially during the rainy season when production is at the peak. Esther Njoki, a dairy farmer, welcomed the installation of the cooler, terming it a breakthrough for farmers. She said they are now assured of better milk prices.
“In the past we have been forced to pour away milk in the event of any surfeit of the product, leading to losses,” she said.
At the same time, David Mwaura, another farmer said that several farmers were reducing dairy production because of falling milk prices and the continuing rise in the cost of production.
