Nairobi, September 3- Kenya is experiencing a milk shortage largely due to reduced fodder (animal feed) supplies caused by inadequate rainfall, according to Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke.
Mueke said the dry conditions have made it difficult for dairy farmers to access enough feed for their cows, resulting in lower milk production. The government is now implementing both short- and long-term measures to stabilise supply and protect farmers from losses.
Among the interventions is the use of yellow maize to supplement maize supplies used in animal feeds. The move was agreed upon during a drought mitigation meeting chaired by President William Ruto.
The government also plans to address concerns over milk prices, with Mueke warning that poor returns could encourage farmers to sell their produce through informal channels. The Kenya Dairy Board will monitor milk movement and work to ensure more milk reaches consumers through formal markets.
Mueke noted that milk production typically falls during dry seasons and rises when rainfall improves, highlighting the dairy sector’s vulnerability to changing weather patterns.
To prevent similar shortages in future, the government is considering ways of preserving excess milk during periods of high production, including drying milk for storage and later use when supplies decline.
The government is also reviewing the operations of dairy cooperatives amid concerns that some farmers are not receiving a fair share of milk revenues. Mueke said some cooperatives purchase milk for about Sh60 per litre but pass on only a small portion of the earnings to farmers, potentially discouraging production.
Discussions have been held with the State Department for Cooperatives, with a circular expected to remind cooperatives to operate within the required regulations.
In the short term, the government is also exploring milk supply options from other countries in the region as it works to restore normal supplies on the market.
