Two groups dive into animal feeds making to meet growing demand

Two farmer groups in Kirinyaga have diversified into production of poultry and dairy feeds to meet rising demand. The county government has been supporting them with feed mixers and single phase motor machines for manufacturing dairy feeds but they re-invested their income to expand production into chicken feed. One of the groups, Wiukirie Self Help Group says apart from expanding its dairy feeds market, it is now making poultry feeds.

 Jane Muthoni, the chair says the group which started its operation in 2020 has now mastered the art of making feeds.

 “We have expanded our operations to making of poultry feed. Our market for dairy feed has grown and we plan to increase production,” she said.

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 Muthoni says demand for feeds manufactured by the group has been on rising because of its high quality.

 “We are selling the feeds to almost every village in Kirinyaga. we have remained consistent with our high quality mark because we have realised the market is flooded with poor quality animal feeds which are over-priced,” she added.

Paul Wanjohi, the chair of Kabaru Dairy Feeds says members have started reaping benefits of the economic empowerment programme launched by Governor Anne Waiguru.

“Because we manufacture the feeds in the village, the farmers do not incur  transport costs,” he said.

Paul Muthii, a member of the Kabaru Dairy Feeds says for many years, he has been grappling with low milk production since feeds bought from other commercial dealers are of poor quality.

“If it were not for the county government, we would not be here. This is a success story, I never thought we could reach here because the equipment is costly and beyond our reach,” Muthii said.

The initiative is part of Governor Waiguru’s Wezesha Kirinyaga economic empowerment programme that is transforming lives of the local community through various agriculture value chain projects.

The governor says four groups in each of the 20 wards are being supported to venture into animal feeds manufacturing.

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