Category: Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries

In efforts to revive the dairy sector in Nandi County, the County Government is constructing a Milk Processing Plant in Kabieyet ward, Mosop Sub County to encourage value addition and job creation.

The Government identifed Kabiyet due to its close proximity to major milk producing primary cooperative societies of the county.

To ensure this is achieved, the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) spearheading the implementation of this flagship project and constituting of the Nandi Dairy Cooperative Union (NDCU) officials, Government officials and the contractor held a meeting today to follow up on the progress of construction and equipping of the plant.

Among the issues discussed included the completion of the structure, supply & installation of equipment, aquisition of an additional parcel of land, electricity connection, water suppy and marketing strategy.

Earlier on, the committee inspected the construction works at Kabiyet whose construction is estimated at 60% and it’s expected to be complete September 2019. The JSC alluded that it intents to deliver Nandi Milk to the market on time.

Installation of milk coolers are underway across all the 30 wards in the county. And to increase milk production, the government through the department of Agriculture and Cooperative continue to offer quality AI semen at a subsidized price.

In line with Governor Sang’s manifesto, the Government through the plant intents to also supply pupils under the Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) in the entire county once the project complete.

Among the JSC members present at today’s meeting included CECM Agriculture Dr Kiplimo Araap Lagat, CECM for Trade Mr. Jacob Tanui and Tourism Wilson Taiy. Others included commitee Co-chair Mr. Rugut, COs Dr. Benerdate Tiony (Cooperatives) and Wilson Lelei (Agriculture).

#TransformingNandi

The County Government of Nandi through its department of Agriculture & Cooperative Development is holding a three day Agricultural Exhibition Field Day at Ndubusat Centre in Chepkunyuk ward, Nandi Hills Sub-County.

While officially opening the Field Day on Thursday, the CECM Agriculture & Cooperative Development Dr. Kiplimo Araap Lagat launched a Free Livestock Deworming program in collaboration with Sidai Africa Limited; a fully vertically-integrated company supplying quality livestock and crop inputs to farmers.

In his address, Dr Lagat said that the program which compliments the government’s plan of disease control forms part of a bigger picture of ensuring healthy dairy animals in the county.

He added that the objective of the exhibition is to promote new & best agricultural practices to farmers in the ward while demonstrating and training farmers on disease control among other sustainable agripractices.

The area MCA Dr. Paul Sanga appreciated the department of Agriculture for supporting the field and their day to day extension services.

Also present was the director veterinary services Dr. Samson Bitok who urged farmers to make use of the subsidized AI program by the county government to get quality breeds for their animals.

Partners present in the exhibition included Meru Greens, Lelbren Dairies, Sidai, Herbex and Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC).

Agricultural exhibitions are very important and rewarding experience to many farmers as it help them learn and acquire more knowledge and skills in modern agricultural practices.

By Cornelius Kipkoech Chebwaai.

Plans to establish the first ever milk processing factory in Nandi has kicked off after the County Government of Nandi begun to hold a series of consultative meetings with dairy stakeholders in the county to lay down all the necessary strategies.

In a consultative meeting held in Kapsabet with all the Dairy Cooperative Societies in Nandi on Tuesday, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang said the County government has allocated 115 Million shillings in the 2018/2019 financial year towards the establishment of the milk processing plant and the process of building the factory and acquisition of machines will begin before the end of this year.

However, Governor sang lamented that low volumes of milk being produced currently could adversely affect the 200,000 Capacity factory once it is operational.

Sang said the current capacity of milk produced stands at 51,000 Litres only and there were need for the farmers to improve the productivity to meet the capacity of the processing plant.

The county boss said the his administration will  continue to work tirelessly  to ensure that the daily milk production targets are met as the construction of the milk factory gets underway citing the already running Artificial Insemination program as one of the ambitious interventions by his government to ensure that high quality livestock breeds are sired for the dairy farmers.

On the other hand, Dairy farmers lauded governor Sang’s efforts to transform the County’s Agriculture sector pledging to put together their efforts to ensure the success of the Value Addition Strategies laid down by his government.

It is estimated that nearly 17,000 households in Nandi practice small scale dairy farming with an Avarage milk production standing at a paltry 3Litres per household.