Waiguru expands milk cooling facilities to boost Kirinyaga dairy farmers

The county government has distributed milk coolers, generators and solar power systems to cooperatives, enabling farmers to store milk safely, reduce spoilage and supply larger volumes to the market.

The initiative has also helped cooperatives expand their membership, create jobs and lower operating costs, according to officials and farmers who have benefited from the facilities.

At New Ngariama Farmers’ Cooperative Society, the number of farmers supplying milk has increased from about 400 to more than 600, while daily milk collection has risen from 2,000 litres to over 7,000 litres.

The growth follows the installation of a 10,000-litre milk cooler and a 100 KVA backup generator by the county government.

Speaking during the distribution of the latest batch of coolers, Waiguru said the projects were intended to support economic activities identified and prioritised by residents through public participation.

She said the facilities would improve milk quality, reduce post-harvest losses and enable farmers to access formal markets while increasing their income.

New Ngariama Cooperative chairperson Phineas Ngari said the equipment had improved milk storage and protected the cooperative against losses caused by power outages.

“We were provided with a modern and efficient milk cooler that safely stores our farmers’ milk, and a generator which ensures that even during power outages, we do not experience losses,” Ngari said.

He said the cooperative could now store up to 12,500 litres of milk, allowing it to expand operations and attract farmers from outside Ngariama.

The cooperative has also increased its milk collectors from four to 10 and is targeting 1,500 farmers within the next two years, with technical support from the county’s Department of Agriculture.

Ngari added that acquiring similar equipment independently would have cost the cooperative more than KSh16 million.

Individual farmers have also reported increased production following improvements in milk collection and storage.

Dairy farmer Munene Shem said his daily output had grown from about five litres to more than 40 litres.

“Before, I produced only about five liters of milk per day, but with these improvements, I now supply over 40 liters daily. This project has created employment and shown that dairy farming can be a sustainable source of income,” Shem said.

Farmer Anne Kabari said she now delivers at least 30 litres daily and earns more than KSh40,000 monthly, income she uses to meet household expenses, including rent and university fees for her child.

At Kirinyaga Dairy Cooperative, chairman Kennedy Ngigi said the new facilities had helped address storage constraints that previously limited the cooperative’s capacity to handle milk from its growing membership.

He said the cooperative previously relied on a 3,500-litre cooler before receiving a 9,000-litre unit and a solar power system.

“We took our request to the Governor and she heard and responded. We were given a cooler with a capacity of 9,000 liters and a solar system. We were paying a bill of between Ksh80, 000 and Ksh100, 000, but now we pay slightly less than Ksh10, 000,” Ngigi said.

He said the cooperative’s membership had nearly doubled from about 1,000 farmers to almost 2,000 following the installation.

The increased storage capacity has also enabled the cooperative to keep milk safely for three to five days before collection, easing pressure on farmers and improving milk handling.

Farmer Anthony Muriuki, who produces about 22 litres daily, said the improved facilities had encouraged farmers to invest more in dairy production.

“We are now proud of being farmers. There is motivation to rear dairy cows and farmers are working towards adding more cows, hoping to produce over 35 liters of milk a day,” Muriuki said.

Another farmer, Anne Wairimu, said milk spoilage had declined significantly, recalling previous losses of more than 1,000 litres when storage capacity was inadequate.

She said farmers could now deliver their milk with greater confidence, knowing it would be stored safely until collection.

According to the county government, 29 milk coolers have so far been distributed to cooperatives and farmer groups through county initiatives and collaboration with the national government, raising the county’s milk cooling capacity to more than 70,000 litres.

The expansion is aimed at strengthening dairy farming as a source of income and employment for households across Kirinyaga County