Nandi County — Construction of the Nandi Dairy Cooperative Factory, a significant milk processing plant in the North Rift region, is nearing completion.
According to Kenya News Agency, the factory, which started construction in 2019, is designed to process over 200,000 liters of milk per day and aims to transition dairy farmers from primary production to value-added agro-processing. This shift is expected to double their income and increase profitability.
Located at Kabiyet township in Mosop Sub County, the state-of-the-art plant will offer dairy farmers protection against exploitation by middlemen, create both direct and indirect employment, and improve nutrition for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) pupils. Governor Sang stated that the installation process is currently 80% complete, with focus now shifting to finalize essential infrastructure such as waste treatment facilities, standby generators, and other utilities.
The Governor, who is in his second term and aims to leave a lasting legacy in the agriculture sector, encouraged farmers to engage with extension officers to improve the quality of livestock. “It would be a waste of taxpayer’s money if the plant, designed to solve local problems, had to source milk from other counties due to insufficient local supply,” Sang said.
To further streamline milk production and reduce post-harvest losses, the department of agriculture is installing milk coolers in high-production areas of the county. This move comes after years of dairy farmers in Nandi demanding the establishment of a local milk processing facility, citing exploitation by middlemen who buy milk at Sh30 per liter and sell it in urban areas for Sh70 per liter.
Daniel Korir, a local dairy farmer, expressed optimism about the factory, saying it will be a milestone for farmers in terms of both milk production and financial gains. The county government is also advised to focus on branding and packaging to further add value to the milk.
Governor Sang recently underscored his commitment to agricultural development by launching the Nandi Chicken slaughterhouse in Kapsabet municipality, which has a processing capacity of 500 birds per hour.