Kirinyaga County government has equipped 66 dairy farmer groups with machinery to manufacture livestock feed, aiming to boost milk production and farmer incomes. The initiative, part of the Wezesha Kirinyaga empowerment program, involves 2,000 farmers across all 20 wards receiving feed mixers, motorized grass cutters, choppers, and hay balers to start local feed production.
The groups will sell surplus feed to non-member farmers, creating additional revenue streams. County Governor Anne Waiguru emphasized that the program seeks to increase daily milk earnings to at least Ksh 400 per farmer. Equipment distribution includes 37 groups receiving feed mixers and single-phase motors, while 11 groups get grass cutters and choppers.
Waiguru highlighted that supported groups already benefit from reduced feed costs and improved animal nutrition, with surplus sales boosting incomes. The county also provided raw materials like wheat bran and maize to kickstart production. The program extends to dairy cooperatives, which received milk cooling plants, haulers, and processing equipment.
Artificial Insemination services target 50,000 cows to improve cattle breeds, enhancing milk yields and disease resistance. The initiative, launched in 2000, aims to increase productivity in agricultural value chains and uplift farmers' living standards through improved dairy production and income opportunities.
