Dairy farmers from Gatanga in Murang’a County have called on the government to reduce taxes on animal feed, arguing that high feed costs are eroding profits and threatening the viability of dairy farming.

The producers also urged amendments to cooperative legislation to stop milk processors from buying directly from individual farmers, a practice they say weakens dairy cooperatives.

John Waweru, head of the Coopertains Dairy Cooperatives, reiterated the request for a law mandating that processors purchase milk only through cooperatives, thereby protecting collective marketing structures.

President William Ruto announced at the Agriculture and Food Security Summit on 9 October that the government will facilitate the importation of improved buffalo and camel breeds to increase milk production, citing India’s commercial buffalo dairy sector as a model.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke has been tasked with overseeing the import process for the new breeds, which the administration hopes will diversify Kenya’s milk supply and alleviate the current shortage.

The farmers contend that immediate relief on feed taxes would lower production costs and improve their ability to market milk through cooperatives, while the broader policy on buffalo and camel introduction remains under public scrutiny.