This archive report was first published on 18 October 2019.
Kenyan dairy farmers are facing a crisis as cheap milk imports from Uganda flood the market, causing prices to plummet and threatening their livelihoods.
According to national chairperson of extension services Muchemi Nderitu, milk production has increased due to the current rains, but prices are dropping due to the influx of cheap imports from Uganda.
‘We urge the government to regulate milk imports from Uganda because this is hurting our farmers,’ said Mr Nderitu.
Ugandan milk sells at Sh12 per litre, while a litre of fresh milk in Kenya goes for Sh35, but has dropped to Sh25 since the influx of cheap imports from Uganda.
‘This price is even below the production price and farmers are now counting losses as traders make huge profits,’ said Mr Nderitu.
He spoke at Kunste Hotel in Nakuru Town on Friday after leading a meeting attended by farmers’ representatives from various counties.
The farmers’ representatives urged the government to step in and support the dairy industry by buying excess milk and converting it into powder to stabilise the market.
They also called for a review of taxation on dairy products and equipment to make the industry more competitive.
‘It is increasingly becoming impossible to compete with imported milk products from Uganda as farmers are overburdened with many taxes on equipment and dairy products,’ said Mr Nderitu.
According to New KCC managing Director Nixon Sigey, the country is holding long life milk product worth Sh1 billion, and there is still a lot of milk in the market increasing by 10 million litres every month due to the current good weather.
