MILK COOLERS TURN AROUND DAIRY FARMERS FORTUNES IN UASIN GISHU
Dairy farmers in Uasin Gishu have reported great benefits from cooler systems installed in various Sub Counties by the county government to help preserve and enhance sale of quality milk and also stop losses.
According to the chairman of Tuiyo Cooperative Society Paul Kipkemboi Siret and New Progressive Farmers Cooperative Sacco chairman Philip Boit things changed after the launch of new milk handling technologies across the Uasin Gishu in 2017 to boost preservation and bulking of milk thus boosting farmers profits.
Farmers from the established Saccos say the 23 coolers established across the County by governor Jackson Mandago administration have tremendously reduced milk hawking and stopped traders who used to adulterate milk with substances not suitable for human consumption.
For instance, with a monthly milk delivery of more than 29,000 litres to Brookside Milk Company ,the 200 member Tuiyo Cooperative Society in Kapseret Sub County has continued to expand .They deliver between 900 to 1000 litres per day to Brookside Company.
Before the devolved unit donated the coolers to farmers cooperatives across the county, lack of cooling facilities by smallholder farmers had forced them to sell their milk through informal channels compromising hygiene and quality of the produce. Milk spoilage during handling and transportation was also prevalent.
New Progressive Farmers Cooperative Sacco chairman Philip Boit says they have grown and have bought a lorry, a tractor ,built a fuel pump for members, started aggro vet business following support given by the Uasin Gishu County government.
“We paid our members on the second day of every month and last year in December we gave them a bonas of Sh2 per kilo. Most of our farmers are smallholders and it became necessary to pool the milk and negotiate with Brookside Company for a long term program on pricing.
Currently, Brookside Company pays Sh39 per litre of milk delivered, with the society paying Sh34 per litre to farmers who deliver themselves at the cooler and Sh35 for those whose milk is collected from there farms,” said Siret, the society’s chairman during an interview at their offices.
The Sh4 difference , he explained, is used to run the office .
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