By Elijah Gichunge
Picture; Phoebe Okall

PS State Department of Livestock, Harry Kimutai has lauded Meru County leadership for prioritizing dairy sector as part of social economic development.

Kimutai who spoke during the Meru Dairy Cooperative Union 6th Annual Farmers Day at Gitoro Show Ground, said the Meru ECDE milk plan, borrowed by 6 more counties, is one sure ways to promote market for dairy products, of which the ministry has put on a request for other counties to undertake the program.

Meru has high potential for dairy farming and on this, he said the Government is set to establish a Liquid Nitrogen plant which will aid in semen preservation, adding that more coolers will be distributed to minimise post harvest losses.
Addressing the farmers, Governor Kiraitu said his government has continued to strengthen the sector by subsidizing livestock vaccines and AI services, nearly by 50 %, to promote livestock production.

He noted to have more plans to encourage the youth to venture in dairy farming through a "Youth In Agriculture" program, as an alternate source job opportunity

One key indicator, he said is the annual local market for the Dairy products his government has created to support farmers through the County’s ECDE milk program, as attested to by Meru Dairy Union CEO, Kenneth Gitonga.

The governor was accompanied by CEC Cooperatives, Maingi Mugambi, his colleagues in Agriculture and Water Carol Mutiga and Dr. Eunice Nkirote respectively.