Dairy farming is an important industry with tremendous growth potential that has improved people’s quality of life and the county’s economic development. The geography and rich soils of the area are ideal for raising fodder crops, which are necessary for dairy production and include maize, Napier grass, and other forages. Popular dairy breeds in Bomet are the very productive Friesian, Ayrshire, Guernsey, and Jersey. High-yielding exotic breeds are frequently crossed with native breeds by farmers to increase milk output and disease resistance. Through the department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, the County Government of Bomet has accomplished a number of firsts in order to assist dairy farmers throughout the county. These include veterinary projects, capacity building via extension officer training and the adoption of suitable technologies such as:
- Tubular bio-digester (308 farmers)
- Hay Making (312 farmers)
- Silage making (420 farmers)
- Solar water pump (2 farmers)
Key Dairy Cooling Plants in Bomet
- Bomet Dairy Farmers’ Cooperative Society:
- This is the county’s main milk aggregator. It has refrigerated storage to hold milk that is collected from its members prior to being sent to processing facilities.
- Chepalungu Dairy Cooperative Society:
- This cooperative society, based in Chepalungu, runs a chilling plant that aids the dairy farmers in the area in maintaining the quality of their milk. The building facilitates bulk storage and enhances milk collection logistics.
- Siongiroi Dairy Plant:
- Modern cooling and storage facilities are available at the Siongiroi plant, which is backed by Brookside Dairy. By giving farmers dependable market access and quality preservation, this factory is an important link in the local dairy value chain.
- Longisa Dairy Cooperative:
- The Longisa area’s dairy farmers are served by the cooling plant operated by this cooperative. It makes ensuring that milk is transferred to processing facilities at the right temperature to avoid spoiling.
- Kapsimotwo Farmers’ Cooperative Society:
- The Kapsimotwo cooperative, another significant player in the dairy industry in Bomet, runs a cooling facility that helps with the gathering and storage of milk from its members