Our Reporter
Hundreds of dairy farmers in Kajiado County have decried low milk prices saying the business has become untenable.
The dejected farmers say the low prices are counterproductive compared to the high cost of production and transportation to milk collection centres.
Unscrupulous middle men also meddle with milk prices prompting some farmers to hawk their milk in urban centres.
The milk enterprise in the Maasai community is the responsibility of a woman and over the years, they have formed cooperatives societies to sell their milk to local companies.
They now say that despite producing high quality milk the companies continue to oppress them forcing to opt for vendors
Most companies buy a litre of milk at Sh 30 when a farmer manages to deliver milk to collection centres along Namanga road.
Nancy Kirumpus from Letoire village,Kajiado Central says bad roads costs a farmer an average of between Sh10 to Sh15 per litre for the milk to be delivered at the Ilbisil town collection centre.
Kajiado County, agriculture CEC Jackline Koin says some unscrupulous middle men continue to take advantage of farmers.
She said the county government is moving in earnest to protect farmers and boost milk value addition to reap more benefits.