Dairy Farming for Increased Income and nutrion.

Dairy development Authority in  an annual celebration of june  Dairy Month which  is  celebrated worldwide to pay tribute to contributions of dairy farmers, dairy processors, traders, and their families who work hard every day to provide fresh, whole some milk and milk products for everyone to enjoy. June Dairy Month has become a successful annual public relations campaign for the dairy industry. In Uganda, Dairy Development Authority is the lead agency in charge of organizing and coordinating the national celebrations for June Dairy Month.

It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) that was established under the Dairy Industry Act, 1998 mandated to develop and regulate the dairy sub sector in Uganda.

Mr. Steven Aikiriza  DDA South western manager said that the dairy subsector in Uganda continues to experience growth averaging 8% per annum. Growth has been, and continues to be registered in milk production, milk collection infrastructure, milk transportation, processing and exports with a resultant reduction in imports.

Milk Production

The milk production has continued to grow at a rate of 8-10% and currently (2014) stands at 1.93 billion litres of which 70% is marketed and 30% consumed by the farming households. In terms of milk production, Uganda is divided into six milk sheds/ regions; Northern, Eastern, South Western, Mid-Western, Karamoja, and Central milk sheds. South Western and Central milk sheds are milk surplus regions accounting for over 50% of the milk production in Uganda.

Milk Marketing and Processing

Approximately 80% of the milk that is marketed is sold un-processed while only about 20% is processed. The total value of marketed milk was estimated at US $ 508 million dollars (2014). Through Government and development partners’ efforts, small holder dairy farmers have been encouraged to form cooperatives and benefit from economies of scale and increased market access. There are 11 unions and 219 active dairy farmers’ cooperatives in the country. There has been growth in cold chain infrastructure. Currently, there are 352 milk collection centres with a total chilling capacity of 1,547,454 litres. Raw milk is now transported in insulated milk road tankers from the collection centres to processing plants and urban milk retail outlets. Currently there are 243 certified milk road tankers with a total carrying capacity of 1.4 million litres. The installed dairy processing capacity stands at 1.7 million litres per day.

Milk and Dairy Product Exports

According to the Executive Director DDA Madam Dr.Zabwende K "The value of exported milk and dairy products stands at US$ 28.6 million in 2014. The value is projected to rise owing to the increased demand for milk and milk products in the region and beyond" . The dairy products that are currently processed in Uganda include; milk powder, UHT milk, pasteurized milk, yoghurt, butter, ice cream, cheese and Ghee for the local market. UHT milk, ghee, casein, whey proteins, butter oil on the other hand are exported within the region (Kenya, Rwanda Burundi, DR Congo, South Sudan and to the Middle East).

Milk Consumption

Although the per capita consumption of milk (kg/ year) has increased over the last ten years from 40 litres per annum in 2001 to 60 litres as of 2014, it is still below 200 litres per person per annum as recommended by WHO/FAO. It is for this reason that we celebrate the June Dairy month under the theme “Dairy farming for improved income and nutrition”. The theme is a call to all Ugandan to take up dairy farming, produce more milk and tap into the available market for improvement of house hold income. The theme is also a call to all Ugandans to consume more milk and harness the nutritional benefits derived from milk consumption.

Benefits derived from Milk consumption

Milk is an excellent source of essential nutrients such as proteins, calcium, phosphorous, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins A, B6 and B12 that are easily digested by children and adults for proper development of the brain, body, strong bones, energy and good eye sight. There is growing evidence associating the lack of dairy products consumption to an increased risk of osteoporosis, high blood pressure, obesity, and colon cancer. This year’s June Dairy Month will focus on garnering support for increasing milk consumption in Ugandan households.

Intercropping

Intercropping

Intercropping is the cultivation of two or more crops simultaneously on the same field. It also means the growing of two or more crops on the same field with the planting of the second crop after the first one has completed its development. The rationale behind intercropping is that the different crops planted are unlikely to share the same insect pests and diseased-causing pathogens and to conserve the soil.

Types of intercropping practices

Mixed or multiple cropping is the cultivation of two or more crops simultaneously on the same field without a row arrangement.

Relay cropping is the growing of two or more crops on the same field with the planting of the second crop after the first one has completed its development.

n

Row intercropping is the cultivation of two or more crops simultaneously on the same field with a row arrangement.

Strip cropping is the cultivation of different crops in alternate strips of uniform width and on the same field. It has two types; contour strip cropping and field strip cropping. Contour strip cropping follows a layout of a definite rotational sequence and the tillage is held closely to the exact contour of the field. Field strip cropping has strips with uniform width that follows across the general slope of the land.

Advantages

1. Reduces the insect/mite pest populations because of the diversity of the crops grown. When other crops are present in the field, the insect/mite pests are confused and they need more time to look for their favorite plants.
2. Reduces the plant diseases. The distance between plants of the same species is increased because other crops (belonging to a different family group) are planted in between.
3. Reduces hillside erosion and protects topsoil, especially the contour strip cropping.
4. Attracts more beneficial insects, especially when flowering crops are included the the cropping system
5. Minimizes labor cost on the control of weeds. A mixture of various crops gives often a better coverage of the soil leaving less space for the development of weeds.
6. Utilizes the farm area more efficiently.
7. Results in potential increase for total production and farm profitability than when the same crops are grown separately.
8. Provides 2 or more different food crops for the farm family in one cropping season.

External links

• Ecological Agricultural Projects. Intercropping. http://eap.mcgill.ca/CSI_1.htm
• Iowa State University Extension. Strip intercropping. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1763.pdf
• Mettot, B. The inter planting of vegetables. Back Home Woods Magazine. http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/mettot81.html
• Intercrop. What is intercropping? http://www.intercrop.dk/General.htm

Food and Agriculture Sector

Food security can quickly change in a region, suddenly putting countless people at risk.

Weather, population movement, and road conditions are only a few of the many factors which can lead to a sudden decrease in food security.

Accurate and timely data directly from the field can literally save   lives, allowing international organizations to act swiftly when a crisis arises.    

With GeoPoll’s Food Security Measurement Service, food analysts are  now able to quickly access near real-time data to aid in making more informed decisions on food security.

             

The Food Security Service collects data through SMS and voice surveys to determine two internationally recognized indicators: the Food Consumption Score (FCS) and Reduced Coping Strategies Index (rCSI). Respondents answer questions on individual consumption patterns over a period of seven days, and data includes number of meals eaten per day, types of food consumed, and general demographic information.
The information collected allows for an accurate calculation of food security scores per household, and data is viewable though an easy-to-use online dashboard. GeoPoll has the ability to collect data at any time interval (daily, weekly, etc), and can collect nationally representative results, or target surveys to specified regions or demographics, including aid beneficiaries or non-beneficiaries. 
No person in any country should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from, or forgo food themselves in order to feed their children.  Unfortunately, easy access to food is a necessity that far too many in emerging markets do not have. For those who farm their own food, changing conditions and demand can wreck one’s livelihood, driving food prices up, and farmers out of business.
Our Food and Agriculture Services provide aid organizations and food analysts with real-time survey data on conditions on the ground.

GeoPoll's Food Security Product is available on a subscription basis in all GeoPoll Plus countries.