Tharaka Nithi government has started a program to help dairy farmers increase milk production by improving cow breeds through introduction of subsidized Artificial Insemination (AI) services.
Governor Muthomi Njuki during commissioning of Mbogoni milk cooler in Igambang’ombe Sub County said due to poor breeds of the cows kept in the county, one produces on average 3.5 litres daily but improvement of breeds would increase production to about 10 litres a day.
The county boss said on average, the county sells 120, 000 litres of milk to private processers every day which is very little.
“We have plans of establishing an AI laboratory within Chuka town to ensure that the semen is readily available to our farmers,” Njuki said.
Coolers
The Governor said his government was in the process of installing more milk coolers in the upper regions where dairy farming is practiced to avoid milk wastage.
About 25 coolers have been installed and many farmers in the county have embraced the culture of taking their milk there for storage where the private processing companies later buy from.
He however raised concern that some coolers were being under-utilized singling out the Mbogoni cooler that has a capacity of 3000 litres but only 250 litres are taken there on daily basis.
In a bid to ensure availability of cheap and healthy animal feeds, the county government is in the process of coming up with a feed production plant at Iriga in Maara constituency where feeds will be sold at subsidized costs.
In addition, he said completion of the upcoming Itugururu Agricultural Training and Research Institute that sits on a 15 acre land will also help in the training extension officers’ and sensitization of farmers.
“The institute will also help in research in a bid to improve animal breeds and crop varieties,” he said.
