Kenya leads in Comesa milk output

11 July 2007, East African Standard
URL: http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200707091733.html

Nairobi:   Kenya's annual milk production has hit the four billion litres mark, ranking the country as the leading producer in the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) region.

Egypt and Ethiopia are ranked second and third, with a production of 1.9 billion and 1.4 billion litres.

"In the region, only Kenya and Ethiopia has a milk surplus meaning there is a ready market for our milk products," said Dr Kipkirui arap Lang'at, the chairman Eastern and Southern African Dairy Association.

Statistics show that the region has a deficit of two billion litres.

Addressing farmers during the end of the Dairy Animal Fair in Naivasha, Lang'at said there was high demand for milk in Latin America and Asia. He said China is currently the leading market due to its high population.

He said the annually milk consumption per person in the country is 80 litres against the average consumption of 318 litres in Europe.

"According to the World Health Organisation a person should consume 201 litres annually."

Last week, the minister for Co-operative Development, Mr Njeru Ndwiga announced that the State-owned New Kenya Co-operative Creameries had opened new exports market for milk and related products.

"We have already exported to Yemen 180 tonnes of powdered milk and more orders for butter and cheese are coming from Tanzania, Egypt, Rwanda, Uganda, Mauritius, Dubai and Egypt," the firm's chairman, Mr Matu wamae said.

Last-month, Livestock Development minister, Mr Joseph Munyao also said the Government was exploring more international milk markets. He asked farmers to increase production.

The Managing Director Kenya dairy Board, Mr Machira Gichohi asked Kenyans to consume more milk.

"We must as Kenyans promote the drinking of our own milk," he said.

Gichohi said milk production had increased from 143 million litres in 2002 to 362 million litres last year.

"There is a revolution in the milk industry with more people starting dairy cattle rearing, especially in the Rift Valley and Central province," said Gichohi.