Dairy farmers in Limuru are set to benefit from Sh 145 million funding meant to install an Ultra Heated Treated (UHT) milk processing machine, as the World Bank and Kiambu county Government agreed to unlock the implementation of the funds
This was agreed on Friday 5, May 2023 in a meeting convened by Kiambu Governor Wamatangi which involved National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) representatives, Limuru Dairy Cooperative board and officials, and the Kiambu County Government
In the agreement the World Bank pledged to provide Sh 100 million to partially fund the purchase of an Ultra Heated Treated (UHT) milk processing machine, for the Limuru Milk Processing plant.
And Sh 30 million will to be raised by the Kiambu County Government while the remaining Sh 15 million will be contributed by farmers
According to Kiambu governor Wamatangi the World Bank had given the facility management, a deadline of December last year to have complied with the terms of the agreement but they have however agreed to extend the time
‘The World Bank has promised to consider releasing the Sh100 million grant it allocated for the project that was on the verge of collapsing due to suspected conflict of interests by unscrupulous officials,’ said Wamatangi
The governor blamed brokers who sneaked into the deal disguised as the Dairy cooperation official for slowing the process by demanding some percentage of the funding.
‘When we were conducting several meetings, consulting and deciding on the way forward, some people were busy misleading our people,’ he said.
The funding is aimed at the revival of the Limuru Milk Processing plant.
On his part Limuru Dairy Cooperative Chairman Njuguna Chege told KNA the project would boost the fortunes of the Limuru dairy farmers cooperative which is wholly owned by smallholder farmers.
‘The machine we are currently using is one of the oldest in the country, upgrading of the facility will have a tremendous impact on Limuru, Kikuu, Lari and Kabete sub-counties dairy farmers who depend on the dairy cooperation,’ said Mr Chege
The chairman added that ‘Dairy farming is the backbone of our people’s economy and the installation of the UHT machine can add value to farmers’ milk and increase productivity,’ he said.
Francis Kabunyi a dairy farmer in Limuru said ‘we look forward to the project because it will save us from the middle man who buy out milk at a very low price since the dairy cooperation has no capacity to take all our milk,’ he said
Source: Kenya News Agency
