Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Cabinet Affairs Idris Dokota has commissioned two solar-powered milk coolers with a capacity of 1,000 litres each for Tana River cooperative societies to boost dairy farming.
Dr. Dokota said the solar-powered milk cooling systems target small-scale producers and seek to combat post-harvest losses and off-grid power challenges.
The solar-powered bulk milk coolers were handed over to Hola Milk Vendors and Delta Dairy Cooperatives.
PS Dokota reiterated the National Government’s commitment to unlocking the economic potential of the livestock subsector through targeted policies and impactful programmes.
The PS said the initiative seeks to improve milk preservation, reduce post-harvest losses and increase incomes for dairy farmers in pastoralist communities.
“The initiative is expected to contribute to an increase in household incomes among targeted pastoralist communities, directly benefiting 600 farmers through improved preservation, value addition and expanded markets,” he said.
Dokota said the two coolers will enable local farmers to aggregate up to 2,000 litres of milk daily valued at approximately Sh98,000. He went on: “Annually this will save about 730,000 litres of milk worth Sh35.8 million while also reducing energy costs through the use of renewable solar power technology.”
He said the coolers are being distributed under the Livestock Value Chain Support Project, which aims to transition small-scale farmers from subsistence to commercial dairy farming by improving infrastructure and supporting access to formal markets.
Speaking during the event in Hola town, PS Dokota urged more farmers to join cooperatives to utilise the new facilities and keep more milk fresh.
Dr. Dokota noted that consumers will benefit from improved food safety standards resulting from better milk preservation and reduced bacterial contamination, while a stable milk supply and improved quality will contribute significantly to household nutrition and food security.
“Bulk milk coolers are not merely storage facilities but are economic empowerment hubs capable of transforming milk into wealth, jobs, nutrition and opportunities for rural communities,” he said.
The cooling system will benefit smallholder farmers in remote pastoral areas by storing milk safely until it reaches collection centres and markets.
The PS emphasized that for many decades farmers in rural and pastoralist areas have suffered major losses due to milk spoilage caused by inadequate cold chain systems and delayed transportation to processing facilities.
He further stated that reduced milk handling losses and transport challenges will encourage farmers to invest in improved dairy breeds, better feeds and modern dairy production practices.
“The milk coolers seek to enhance value addition and help the local farmers with limited access to the national electricity grid reduce losses by preserving more milk,” he said.
Dokota said the milk coolers are vital for dairy farmers to prevent spoilage and maintain raw milk quality before processing.
“The coolers have the capacity to keep 2,000 litres of fresh milk for a longer period, hence saving farmers from occasional wastages,” he said.
He said the national government will continue to provide milk coolers to farmer cooperatives across the country in a bid to cushion them from losses.
Chairlady of Delta cooperative society Sofia Kanchora said the milk coolers will help local pastoralists prevent spoilage and deliver high-quality milk every day. She said the solar-powered milk coolers are a game-changer for rural dairy farmers in Tana River County.
Sofia said the coolers will help prevent bacterial spoilage, saving farmers from daily losses and significantly boosting profits. “We welcome the agricultural support, as smallholder dairy farmers are the backbone of local milk production,” she said.
She said the local farmers were trained on improved husbandry, dairy farming best practices and sustainable approaches to milk production, collection and processing.
By Hussein Abdullahi
