UGANDA – The Dwaniro Dairy and Livestock Farmers Cooperative in Uganda’s Kiboga District has inaugurated a mini dairy processing plant aimed at reducing milk wastage, stabilizing incomes, and promoting dairy value addition. 

Producing over 35,000 liters of milk daily, the cooperative’s 800 members can now convert their milk into various products, such as yogurt, pasteurized milk, and cheese. 

The facility, funded by Uganda’s National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), responds to long-standing issues in Uganda’s dairy industry, including milk spoilage, low pricing, and limited access to processing facilities, which have hindered income stability among small-scale farmers.

Speaking at the commissioning, Hon. Bright Rwamirama, Uganda’s Minister of State for Animal Industry, underscored the need for farmers to adopt artificial insemination and modern breeding practices to improve milk quality and sustain production levels.

Uganda’s dairy sector plays an essential role in the national economy, directly impacting the livelihoods of approximately 1.7 million Ugandans. 

The industry has experienced remarkable growth over the past decade, with milk production rising from 2.5 billion to around 2.9 billion liters annually. 

However, despite the increase in production, the industry faces challenges such as fluctuating milk prices, which dropped further due to Kenya’s recent import restrictions on Ugandan dairy products. 

The Dwaniro plant is part of a larger trend in Uganda’s agricultural policy, which now emphasizes agro-industrialization to generate higher value from farm products. 

Other cooperatives across the country, including those in Kamuli and Kabale, have also received support to establish processing facilities, backed by the Uganda Dairy Development Authority (DDA) and NAADS. 

This initiative aligns with Uganda’s broader economic goals, as the country seeks to increase local milk consumption from 69% to approach Kenya’s higher consumption rate of 81%. 

By increasing the production of high-demand dairy items, Uganda hopes to make its dairy products more appealing domestically and reduce dependence on exports to neighboring countries​

Additionally, these cooperatives receive training in product quality and compliance with local and international standards, enhancing the ability of farmers to access new markets. 

Experts argue that investing in value-added products not only reduces the chances of milk wastage but also empowers cooperatives to achieve better pricing in the market, thus ensuring that dairy farming remains a viable livelihood. 

With ongoing support for dairy industrialization, Uganda’s dairy sector is set to transform, potentially making the country self-sufficient and competitive within East Africa’s dairy economy

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