by Gerald Mukembu
President William Ruto will on Thursday join thousands of dairy farmers in marking this year’s Meru Dairy Farmers Field Day at Gitoro ASK showground.
Confirming the event, Meru Dairy CEO Kenneth Gitonga said the office of the President has already confirmed that the head of state will be the guest of honor on Thursday, June 13, 2024, a reschedule from the initial Friday 14th that was earlier communicated.
According to Mr Gitonga, the President is, on the same day, expected to officially launch the Sh100M Dairy feeds factory at Mitunguu in South Imenti.
“It has taken this Co-operative more than two years to prepare for a feeding Mill. I am here to inform farmers that the Field Day will take place at ASK Gitoro. It is a great honor. We anticipate the support from the President because it will go a long way to bring the cost of feeds down. Let’s come out in large numbers for the respect of the President because he is the first sitting President to grace the occasion twice consecutively,” Gitonga stated.
He said that as leaders they aim to reduce the cost of milk production through lowering farm inputs, artificial insemination, and other related products.
Gitonga appealed to Kenyan MPs to ensure the Finance Bill is friendly to farmers by subsidizing inputs even as the debate on the bill enters the final stages at the National Assembly.
“The subsidy should cater for farm inputs and processing costs. If farmers have milk but processing is costly, they will never help themselves,” Gitonga said.
Echoing his sentiments, Simeon Kiruja, the Meru Dairy Cooperative Union Chairman said their ninth field day is extremely special to farmers as there will be established well-known exhibitors who will create awareness among farmers.
Speaking during the launch of the dissemination of the Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV) In Meru last week, Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi said that his ministry will establish a Sh100M feed Mill in Meru for the production of quality animal feeds.
“We have also allocated Sh300M to adjust and motivate our youths to grow fodder. We must end imports of edible oils. I urge every farmer to turn to his land and utilize it for this Country to eradicate hunger,” he said.
