By Emmanuel Kipkorir Tarus, DevReporter, Trans Nzoia County
Key highlights
- There is 60% shortage of animal feeds
- Pakchong 1 Super Napier grass has high protein content
- KALRO tested and approved the fodder
- Using this fodder lowers the cost of milk production by about 50%
- The Kenya government is committed to doubling milk production from 5.2 billion litres to 11 billion litres by 2027
The ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development reports that annually, Kenya grapples with 60% shortage of animal feeds. This is one of the factors that push the cost of milk production up.
It is against this backdrop that farmers have been urged to grow their own fodder to lower the cost of milk production. One such fodder is the Pakchong’ 1 Super Napeir Grass.
Pakchong’s protein content
Laboratory tests done by Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Organization (KALRO), indicate that the grass is rich in protein. Due to its productive nature, a farmer can harvest 32,000 tons per acre per year. This is enough to feed 15 cows for a whole year.
Lowering the cost of milk production
Joseph Naibei, a small-scale farmer in Saboti Constituency said that unlike before he embraced this grass, he now gets high profit margins.
“I used to shell maize stalks and other forms of grass but there was very little profits. Things changed after I gave super napier a try because I have lowered the cost of milk production by about 50%,” Naibei said.
The proud farmer uses his profits to settle some of his household bills and ensure his family is food secure throughout the year.
“Saving the 50% means I am able to afford other needs while the money I get from selling milk guarantees my family food security,” he stated.
Nelly Masika, the chairperson of Lulu Cooperative Society in Likuyani, Kakamega County confirms that lowering the cost of milk production was essential for economic growth.
“After I lowered the cost of producing milk, I am able to educate my children, pay hospital bills and even save something. Why should I buy imported animal feeds when I can grow my own super Napier and harvest three times in a year?” she asked.
Cooperative movements
In Endebess, James Wanambisi, a dairy farmer called on other dairy farmers to join cooperatives so that they can bargain for better prices of their milk.
“Exploitative brokers are all over targeting farmers who are not in cooperatives. The only sure way to get profits from dairy sector is to be in a cooperative society,” Wanambisi urged.
From April 2023, Brookside Dairy has distributed over 92,000 seed cuttings to dairy farmers in North Rift and Western counties. This is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
In an interview with Radio Baraza, Elijah Keter, the company’s Rift Valley and Western Regions Sales Manager, urged farmers to embrace Pakchong.
“We sourced it from outside the country and we have been multiplying it in our farms before distributing to our farmers. KALRO laboratory tests revealed that this fodder has the highest crude protein and energy needed for milk production,” Keter said.
Policy makers led by Kwanza Constituency Member of Parliament, Ferdinand Wanyonyi, said that lowering the cost of milk production will make Kenyan farmers competitive in the East African region.
“While we desire to produce enough milk for our local market, we should also aim to produce surplus for exports. That is not possible when the cost of animal feeds is relatively high compared to Uganda and Tanzania.
It ties aligns with various United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including No poverty (SDG1), Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good health and well-being (SDG 3), among others. Dairy farming is a major contributor to the agricultural sector which is part of economic pillar of the Kenya Vision 2030.
Related stories
https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/super-hybrid-napier-picks-in-muranga/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCIQLfY5zLk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcNKOPHzwLU
https://wingfarm.org/why-farmers-should-grow-super-napier-packchong-1/
