Governor protests low milk prices being offered by companies

Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia has demanded Government’s immediate intervention into the ailing dairy sector.

This is after milk processing companies drastically reduced milk purchase price from milk farmers.

Currently, the companies are buying the commodity at between Sh24 to Sh27 per litre.

This is down from the previous Sh35 per litre.

He has since blamed national agencies concerned with imports control for influx of powdered milk which has contributed to falling milk prices in the country.

The Governor blamed unregulated importation of powdered milk which has caused a glut resulting in reduced returns for farmers during this dry season.

Speaking on Monday in Ol Kalou town, the county head called on the national government to re-look into policies which have the effect of stifling realisation of the Big Four agenda initiative.

“It is unacceptable that when the cost of producing a litre of milk is at its highest, we find the purchase price being reduced due to a glut caused by persons who are not milk producers,” Governor Kimemia said.

He regretted that the county was hardest hit by the move leading to farmers incurring heavy losses as a result.

'This is totally unacceptable. We cannot have our farmers incurring such losses yet the prices of food to the cows keep on going up. The national government must intervene and solve this problem,' he said.

Last week, farmers from the region vowed to boycott selling their milk at such low prices.

Through their spokesperson Jane Muthoni, they regretted that they have now been forced to incur heavy losses as a result.

“There was no explanation given by the management of the dairy processing plants where we deliver the milk. It took effect simultaneously in all dairy plants,” she said.

She noted that the farmers are incurring losses totaling to millions of shillings as food prices for the livestock have not reduced.

“We need help from the government as hay prices and other food for our animals keep on increasing due to the current drought. We do not understand why they dropped the milk prices,” she noted.