Government mulls importing milk as production drops by 50 percent

Milk production in the country has dropped by 50 per cent in the last three months, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has said.

Mr Munya said milk bought by New KCC and turned into powder during glut has been brought back into the market to fill the shortage.

Speaking during an interview yesterday on Muuga FM, a vernacular radio, Munya said the decrease in production had caused a shortage in the market and expressed fears it might be necessary to import.

“I have told farmers to increase production because there is a market. In the next months, we will have (shortage) problems if we do not increase production,” he said, adding that his ministry had blocked smuggling of milk from neighbouring countries.

Munya said he was committed to implementing President Uhuru Kenyatta’s mission to empower Kenyan farmers.

The CS said at some point prices had dropped to as low as Sh17 a litre but he had correct that, acting on a directive from the president.

The minister said new machinery were being installed in old milk processing facilities.

“We are rebuilding the old factories in Kiganjo, Nyahururu and Dandora. In Meru we are building a factory at Kangeta to provide market for Meru and Isiolo zone. I will be there next week to inspect the construction,” he said.