Khadija Nakakande, the NAADS Communications Manager, says that since 2014 there have been major improvements in the dairy sector, which has increased milk production from 2.5billion liters to 2.9 billion liters annually. She, however, says that this has come with the lack of market-leading to price fluctuations in the market.
Five Diary cooperative
societies in different districts have received Mini milk processing equipment
to support value addition, thanks to the National Agriculture Advisory Services
(NAADS).
The
beneficiaries are Balaholi Farmers Society in
Kamuli, Neema Mixed Farm in Kamwengye, Dwanilo Diary and Livestock Farmers
Society in Kiboga, Kigezi Diary, and Producers Society in Kabale, and Kyankwazi
Diary Farmers’ Cooperative.
The Diary Development Authority-DDA trained members of the five cooperatives on how to make Yoghurt, ghee, and
cheese at Mutanoga Farm Training Center in Kiruhura district to ensure they
produce quality milk products.
Khadija Nakakande, the NAADS Communications
Manager, says that since 2014 there have been major improvements in the dairy sector, which
has increased milk production from 2.5billion liters to 2.9 billion liters
annually. She, however, says that this has come with the lack of market-leading
to price fluctuations in the market.
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She revealed that NAADS secured Shillings 2.5
billion from the government this financial year which was used to purchase five mini
dairy processing plants for the beneficiaries, which they hope to install by
the end of this month.
According to Nakakande, the equipment will help
the cooperators to produce yogurt, cheese, and ghee that can meet international
standards.
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Ritah Basemera, the Manager of Balaholi Farmers
Society in Kamuli district says that they collect 500liters of milk daily at between
Shillings 800 and 1200. She says that adding value to the milk will be an
advantage to the farmers since price fluctuations have been affecting their
business.
According to Basemera, although the price of milk keeps
fluctuating, the products have a fixed price noting that a packet of yogurt
costs 2500 much higher than a liter of milk, and a Kilogram of ghee costs Shillings
20,000, which is more than 100% higher compared to the price of Milk.
Patrick Atengi, the Director of Kigezi Diary and
Producers Society in Kabale, says that the training has equipped them with
knowledge of making good products that will increase their income and allow
them to export products to the international market.
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He says the market has been a challenge noting that they have
had losses from the surplus milk due to poor storage.
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Emmanuel Tayebwa, the director of Mutanonga Farm
Training Center, says that adding value to milk will increase the consumption
of milk, which stands at 69% in Uganda compared to 81% in Kenya.
Wilson Kajwengye, the Nyabushozi County Member of Parliament wants the
government to help all cooperatives that are ready to add value to their agricultural
products. He tasked NAADs to shift from giving out agricultural
products to value addition, which will sustain agro-processing and transform the
agriculture economy into an industrial one.
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Emmanuel Kishe, a consultant on Dairy Farming
appreciated the initiative noting the amount of milk that goes to waste in
Uganda is enough to finance the entire budget of a district local government
once sold on the international market.
Since Kenya banned the
importation of Uganda's milk, the Dairy sector has struggled to find another
market, which has affected the price of milk locally. Currently, a liter of
milk in Western Uganda costs as low as Shillings 500 shillings at the farm gate
price and Shillings 800 at retail.
