This archive report was first published on 8 January 2020.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020, marked a significant milestone for dairy farmers in Nakuru, as they reported a substantial reduction in post-harvest losses following the adoption of better technologies.
According to the county department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, smallholder farmers have embraced the use of improved tools through co-operatives, leading to increased milk production.
Immaculate Maina, the Agriculture executive, attributed the reduction in milk losses from 32 percent in 2018 to about 15 percent in 2019 to the county's commitment to supporting farmers through new innovations.
“With about 32 percent losses associated with electrical energy as recorded in 2018, the county’s commitment to support farmers through new innovations has largely contributed to the reduction in loss rate,” said Dr Maina.
Seventy percent of the total land acreage in Nakuru is agriculturally productive, with a huge capacity for livestock production, especially dairy cows.
Farmers attribute the re-emergence of the dairy sector as a strong pillar of the area’s economy to ties with processors that train them in right practices.
Co-operative societies observe that milk production has been steadily rising over the past three years following sustained training in cow husbandry by processors.
