President William Ruto on Wednesday ordered the New Kenya Co-operative Creameries (New KCC) to purchase milk from farmers at an increased rate of Ksh50 per litre, up from the current Ksh40, beginning March 1, and ensure the price never fluctuates.
Speaking during the commissioning of the modernised New KCC Nyahururu Factory in Nyahururu, Laikipia County, Ruto also directed that farmers should receive their payments every 15 days.
“From July 1, farmers will be paid every 15 days. This is how we will eliminate milk hawking, which arises when farmers are not paid for two to three months,” Ruto said.
The President mentioned that the New KCC Nyahururu Factory will cater to over five counties, processing a minimum of 150,000 liters of milk daily, up from the current 80,000 liters.
“The Government will make the New KCC more efficient, facilitate training, invest in value addition and secure lucrative markets that will offer better returns to milk farmers. This will ensure that we double our production to more than 10 billion litres a year to drive our growth,” he said.
The President further pledged that the government would improve farmers’ access to seasonal credit through the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC).
“The government has allocated AFC Ksh10 billion for this purpose,” he announced.
Ruto further guaranteed farmers that they would receive this season’s fertilizer at a subsidized cost of Ksh2,500.
“Investing in agriculture is the best way to create wealth and expand opportunities for the people and reduce the cost of living and food,” Ruto said.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said reforms in the agricultural sector have been successful, citing improved earnings by tea, coffee and milk farmers.
“The last bonus has been the highest in the history of tea farming in the country,” he said.
Earlier, President Ruto commissioned the tarmacking of access roads in Lamuria, Laikipia County.
He also laid the foundation stone for the construction of the 200-unit Nanyuki Affordable Housing Project which will generate more than 1,000 jobs.
