BY BERTILLA NYANCHAMA: Kisii’s dairy farmers are experiencing a major transformation in their livelihoods, thanks to government-backed milk coolers and targeted training programs.

The new initiative is helping local farmers store and sell more milk, drastically reduce post-harvest waste, and steadily increase their household incomes.

During the launch, Kisii County Governor Simba Arati reaffirmed the county’s commitment to supporting the local agricultural sector.

“Dairy farming is incredibly important to our economy,” Governor Arati stated adding that, “We are investing more resources into cooperative societies to ensure the dairy sector grows sustainably, and I will not allow Kisii farmers to suffer.”

The infrastructural project is part of a wider, integrated development effort across the county.

This includes extensive road upgrades aimed at improving market accessibility, ensuring farmers can transport their perishable produce to buyers before it spoils.

Principal Secretary for the State Department for Livestock Development, Jonathan Mueke, emphasized that integrating technology is central to the government’s plan to modernize agricultural value chains.

“Four milk coolers, each with a capacity of 3,000 liters, have already been delivered. These installations will empower over 1,200 local farmers to collectively supply more than 800,000 liters of milk annually to formal commercial markets,” PS Mueke noted.

The delivery of the coolers is being paired with hands-on training programs designed to teach local youth how to operate and maintain the specialized equipment.

Alongside infrastructure, agricultural extension officers are encouraging farmers to prioritize livestock vaccinations to maximize milk yields and protect their herds.

Reduced livestock prices

In a great boost for local herd expansion, the government has substantially subsidized the cost of high-quality heifers, dropping the price from KSh 6,000 to just KSh 1,000.

This drastic price reduction makes it significantly easier for smallholder farmers to scale up their production capacity.

The leadership also pointed out the region’s immense agricultural potential, noting that the Gusii region is naturally prime livestock area, and that these development projects are a direct result of strong community and government collaboration.

Local dairy farmers noted that the practical impact of these interventions is already visible.

“Before these interventions, we could only manage to sell about eight liters of milk per day,” said a farmer who is already witnessing drastic changes, “Now, our production has increased, and storage is no longer a headache thanks to these coolers.”

Fred Makori, another dairy farmer from the region, called for continued investment to keep the momentum going.

“This support is finally helping us transition from subsistence production into a reliable, commercial business. Adding even more coolers in the future will allow us to scale up our efficiency and reach wider markets.”