North Rift farmers have accused the government of planning to sell off the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) to private investors instead of giving them priority in the privatisation plans.
The farmers said they would oppose any plans by private investors to take over the milk processing firm adding they are the genuine owners of the company.
In a signed memorandum to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industrialisation, the group demanded for a full disclosure of the current status of the company’s properties before it is privatised.
The group, which included Kenya Farmers Association director Kipkorir arap Menjo, spoke during a farmers’ meeting last week.
“The government should honour its pledge of 2003 that it would revive KCC and hand it over to dairy farmers without interfering with the original shareholding design and structure,” said Mr Menjo, who read the press statement.
The farmers further said there is a need for more coolers to be put up in milk-producing counties besides working on a prompt way of paying farmers for deliveries, to discourage hawking of milk amid safety concerns.
“Milk being a perishable commodity, some vendors add hydrogen peroxide in due disregard of the safety guidelines, to make the product last longer. Others add water to earn more profits,” said Alice Chesire, a director at Kenya Dairy Board.
The dairy board official asked the government to invest in powder milk to that would be used as strategic reserve and improve on producer prices to encourage more farmers to take up dairy production.
“Allocating more funds to the milk sector will ensure streamlined marketing of the produce,” said Ms Chesire during the meeting in Eldoret. “There would be no fears of milk glut due to a lot of the commodity with few buyers in sight.”
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei told the farmers that the New KCC does not fall under his ministry but, promised to consult with his colleagues on how well the issues raised could be addressed for the benefit of all partners.
The Cabinet Secretary aslo appealed to youths to accept to work on farms instead of over relying on white collar jobs saying the government was committed to set aside funds targeting the those interested in agriculture.
“As we move towards the Maputo Declaration of having 10 per cent of national budget dedicated to agriculture, let’s not leave the aging farmers to drive agriculture,” said Mr Koskei. “We want our youths to be actively involved in fighting against food insecurity.”
He said the government had invested in irrigation to complement rain-fed agriculture to improve crop production in areas that grapple with food shortage due to inadequate rainfall.
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