Dairy industry players want school milk project revived

Nairobi; Kenya: Dairy industry players want the Government to revive the multi-million shilling school milk programme that collapsed in 1980s, following dismal performance of the agriculture sector. They say reintroducing the programme would boost consumption of dairy products locally and encourage farmers to produce more.

“Growing local consumption in the short, medium and long term is critical in developing this important sector. The school milk project holds the key to the industry’s complete revival,” said Eastern and Southern Africa Dairy Association Executive Director Peter Ngaruiya.

“Most countries with a functioning school milk programme have transformed their dairy sector. However, in spite of this growth, the industry is grappling with challenges - some of which are policy related. A key issue is the low and erratic milk production hampering proper planning and sustained investment particularly processing and products development,” Ngaruiya said.

He spoke in Nairobi, last week, while releasing details of the 10th African Dairy Conference and Exhibition slated for next week.

The conference that coincides with the World School Milk day is celebrated every last Wednesday of September, will offer the local dairy industry an opportunity to experience emerging technologies, solutions and practices for increased competitiveness while stimulating trade in milk and its products. The Jubilee Government had included school milk programme in its manifesto. Recently, Mombasa County introduced a school milk programme as part of boosting education in the county.  In the last decade, milk production has recorded a sustained growth of slightly more than 30 per cent.

Increased production

Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei recently said milk production over the years has increased by about four billion litres - from 2.2 billion litres. “Milk production in the country has increased from 2.2 billion litres to over six billion annually as a result of interventions by the Government and private sector players,” said Koskei.

Low milk production is attributed to cold weather, inadequate rains, and competition for land between livestock and crops and delayed payments by some processors. New KCC Managing Director Kipkirui arap Lang’at says average payment to  farmers stands at Sh32, adding that due to the cold season, production is dipping against increasing demand. “We have seen dairy farmers venture into the industry and new processing plants set-up around the country. In the past one year alone, over seven new processing plants have been commissioned across the country.

Dairy Board of Kenya Managing Director Machira Gichohi says Kenya has witnessed increased investment in milk processing with between 2.9 million to over 3.5 million litres processed per daily. He however noted the number of milk processing companies have reduced due to insolvency and mergers and acquisitions.