NGPU March 16, 2023

NAKURU ON COURSE TO IMPLEMENT DAIRY KENYA – IRELAND PROJECT

Written by Mercy Kihugu

Nakuru County is on track to implementing the Dairy Kenya Ireland project aimed at raising productivity and help in improving the county’s food security.

The adoption of new husbandry methods and technology is expected to go a long way in improving the country’s dairy and beef sectors in line with H.E Governor Susan Kihika’s manifesto.

Today, County Executive for Agriculture Leonard Bor welcomed Irish Minister of State Department of Agriculture, Food, and Marine Pippa Hackett at the Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).

The team from Ireland is in the county on a field visit to check on the implementation of the project at KALRO in Naivasha.

The team was briefed on the activities undertaken within the project which has led to the development of a cattle breeding program with a focus on farm profitability through the use of improved forage-based production which meets more than 90 percent of the animal’s dietary requirements.

The project is very significant since through the organization smallholder farmers can learn and adopt innovations in breeding, value addition, and dairy industry skills development to increase productivity.

Also present was Irish Ambassador, Fionnuala Quinlan, and KALRO Director Livestock Systems Dr. Samuel Mbuku among others.

Ireland exports about Sh450 billion worth of dairy products every year to more than 100 countries, representing over 90 percent of its total production.