Mumias Chief Executive Officer Peter Kebati. [PHOTO: FILE]

By JANE CHEROTICH and JACKLINE INYANJI

BUSIA, KENYA: Mumias Sugar Company is mulling the construction of a milk processing plant in Busia County.

The company’s Chief Executive Peter Kebati on Tuesday said the miller was exploring ways to help farmers develop alternative revenue streams. The miller has already initiated a project that allocates dairy animals to farmers across the sugarcane-growing zone.

Speaking at the launch of the project in Nambale, where he also handed two dairy cows to Consolata Namulanda and Enock Namulanda, Mr Kebati said they would team up with Busia County government to build a cooling plant if farmers embrace the project enmass.“We are ready to roll out the project if dairy farmers will demonstrate they have sufficient quantities of milk to sustain the factory,” Kebati said.

“This is an important project through which we hope to offer farmers not just an alternative revenue stream but also contribute to better nutrition and food security.”

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REVENUE STREAM

The miller unveiled the dairy project last year to help farmers complement their earnings from sugarcane. The company has allocated Sh4.3 million to the project that will see farmers in Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega and parts of Nyanza roped into dairy farming.

Through the Mumias Sugar Foundation, the miller will give dairy cows to 50 groups of farmers made up of about 20 people in the first phase which runs up to June with the second phase beginning July.

“The project will help cut reliance on income from sugarcane,” the Mumias Sugar Foundation manager Moses Mukhwana said.

Mukhwana said they will be opening molasses distribution outlets across the sugar belt from which dairy farmers can easily buy it at a subsidised cost.

Busia County Agriculture Executive Moses Osia challenged farmers to take the project to enable them produce milk in sufficient quantities that warrant a processing plant.

Kebati also hinted at more co-operation with the farming community to develop sustainable and viable economic activities that will enhance their livelihoods and create opportunities for women and youths.