A report released by the Economic Policy Research Centre shows that milk production in Uganda has steadily increased from 481 million litres in 1990 to over 1.6 billion litres in 2011.
“Milk production has increased by 8-10% and the processing capacity is expanding with increased value addition along the milk value chain,” Dr. Swaibu Mbowa, the team leader of the Economic Policy Research Centre said recently.
He was presenting the report during the regional dissemination workshop on diary sector reforms and transformation at Mt. Elgon Hotel in Mbale.
The report, presented to eastern and northern region district veterinary doctors, attributed the growth in milk production to an increased cattle population rather than increased productivity per cow.
Dr. Mbowa said the research was carried out throughout the country with eastern and central regions registering sizeable gain in stocking exotic breeds. Northern Uganda had a decline in stocking both indigenous and improved breeds.
He said despite the increase in milk production, only 20% of the milk is processed. Eighty percent of all the milk is consumed locally.
“Selling milk directly to households offers the farmers low prices. However, the formal sector offers relatively higher prices to farmers,” Mbowa said.
From 2005-2011 the central region took the lead in milk consumption per capita followed by western, eastern and then northern.
Mbowa added that regional milk markets are not well integrated, farms gate milk prices are perpetually low in milk surplus western region and high in the milk defi cit eastern and northern regions.
By Paul Watala, The New Vision
