New plant to help bring down the cost of semen
Dairy farming in North Rift and Western regions has received a major boost after the commissioning of Sh1 billion semen plant in Trans Nzoia County. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya last week officially commissioned the Agricultural Development Corporation's Livestock Genetic Centre in Endebess Sub-County. With bulls from renown breeders in South Africa, Munya said the facility is set to bring down the cost of semen in the country.
"This plant is a major boost to dairy farming. I'm happy that the investment will make the cost of semen affordable to farmers," Munya said during the launch.
Accompanied by ADC board chairman Nick Salat, the CS urged farmers in North Rift and Western to take advantage of the facility to transform their dairy farming ventures.
"We encourage farmers to take advantage of the facility to secure breeds of high yielding livestock," said Munya.
The CS said a refrigerated vehicle will be provided to help ADC supply semen across the country. He said the government will provide additional funds for the expansion and equipping the facility to meet the demand for semen. He said the government will provide funds to enable ADC acquire 30 additional bulls from South Africa to scale up semen production.
"The Government will inject in more funds to equip and expand the centre to meet the high demand for semen. We will also support ADC acquire a feed milling plant," Munya.
ADC Managing Director Mohammed Bulle said the recent importation of 19 additional super breed bulls will enhance semen production from 30,000 doses per month to 50,000 doses per month.
"We require 30 additional bulls to increase semen production from the current 30,000 to 50,000 doses per month. This will boost production of milk and beef,’’ said Bulle.
The centre, he noted, can produce a million doses yearly, adding that it will bring down the cost of semen.
"The facility has been instrumental in the reduction of the cost of semen in the country. Previously a dose was selling at over Sh1000, but today, it has come down to less than Sh300,’’ said Bulle.
New KCC Managing Director Nixon Sigey said the completion of the modernisation programme of Kitale factory will boost milk intake. Sigey asked farmers to transform their breeds to benefit from good milk prices.
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