The country is currently facing low milk production with 50 percent cut in the last two months due to severe drought.
The dairy sector has been hit hard by the drought that has resulted in a 40 percent drop in milk supply to the State-owned plant, said Nixon Sigey the New KCC managing director.
He elaborated that farmers are having difficulties finding animal feeds for their animals because of its high costs and unavailability.
There’s low supply of maize plants which play an important role in the animal feeds directly affecting milk production and the general animal health.
The price of raw milk was recently raised from 40 shillings to 43 shillings by the New KCC as competition hits a new high amidst falling supply making it the highest paying processor in the market followed by Brookside which is offering farmers 42 shillings per litre.
According to the New KCC it raised its prices in order to cushion dairy farmers against soaring costs of feeding their animals.
The company has also reconstituted milk to powder form in order to bridge the shortage gap in the country.
Mr Sigey said that they have enough powder milk that will last up to the end of May this year. On the other hand, Brookside Dairy has registered an improvement in milk intakes in Nyeri over the last three weeks citing competitive prices offered to farmers.
According to the processor’s general manager John Gethi, dependency on rain-fed pasture is impeding growth of the sector and production of milk. He urged farmers to take advantage of ongoing rains to prepare and conserve animal feeds.