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.
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.
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.
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