This archive report was first published on 22 September 2019.
Kenya's dairy farmers are facing a perfect storm of cheap imports and high production costs, but a government task force is working to stem the tide.
According to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri, the task force will table its findings in the next three weeks and recommend new policies to regulate imports, particularly from Uganda, and boost local production.
Mr Kiunjuri said the government has pumped Sh140 million into constructing additional milk coolers to help dairy farmers who are counting losses after processors cut producer prices due to an increase in supply.
He also announced the construction of a Sh900 million bull station to boost the quality of animal breeds and milk production in the country.
However, dairy farmers are not convinced that the government's efforts will be enough to stem the glut caused by cheap imports, particularly from Uganda.
"Whereas we understand there are regional trade treaties that allow free trade, we know that powder milk is reconstituted in a neighbouring country and ferried to Kenya, leading to a milk glut," said Mr Stanley Ng'ombe, the chairman of Kenya Dairy Farmers Federation.
Mr Ng'ombe's sentiments were echoed by Mr Julius Kiptarus, the director of livestock production in the Agriculture and Livestock ministry, who attributed the recent slump in milk prices to the influx of cheaper processed dairy products from neighbouring countries.
