South Western Uganda to improve dairy farming

SNV Uganda has signed a four year partnership agreement of 9 million Euro with the Netherlands Embassy in Uganda to implement The Inclusive Dairy Enterprise (TIDE) project in the districts of Bushenyi, Isingiro, Kiruhura, Mbarara, Ntungamo, and Sheema in South Western Uganda.

Speaking at the launch of the project, the Netherlands Ambassador H.E. Alphons Hennekens expressed his appreciation on the project's focus on farm incomes, nutritional security of dairy households and on milk quality for urban consumers. He added that the project is a perfect successor to the joint Dutch-Danish a Bi-Trust project that raised incomes of 6,500 cooperative dairy farmers by installing 120 dairy coolers.

"I am happy that one of the project's objective is to address the challenges around milk quality with the proposed introduction of milk ATMs selling pasteurised milk to consumers. This is a great innovation that we will support and ensure that it is regulated and lives up to the high quality milk standards that we advocate for," Hon. Rwamirama added.  The new SNV-led TIDE project will focus on the following four components: Improved dairy farm productivity: 20 well-managed farms will be transformed into practical dairy training farms.

Approximately 5,000 small and larger farmers will benefit from practical training in farm management, dairy feeding, farm mechanisation and renewable energy options. The focus will be on increasing more milk per cow, thereby contributing to more sustainable production systems and to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. The project will emphasise support to women and youth as key-drivers in transforming the cattle-based economy into modern dairy farms producing for both the local and regional market.  Improved commercial milk quality: Through partnerships between farmers, milk traders and processors the quality of commercial milk will be targeted. Quality-based payment systems will be introduced as incentives for farmers and traders to supply improved quality.

By introducing 'milk ATMs' as bulk-selling points for pasteurized milk in Kampala, the project will stimulate traders to sell safe unpackaged milk to urban consumers, thereby addressing the government's concern of unsafe milk being sold in urban areas.  Improved pro-active dairy sector regulation: The Dairy Development Authority will be supported to roll-out an independent milk inspection and enforcement system that will accompany the introduction of the improved milk quality systems. To make the formal dairy sector more competitive, the Dairy Development Authority will be strengthened to support sector transformation and market investment opportunities.

Improved dairy household nutrition: Vulnerable households and children will be the target of school milk activities. Mobile nutrition campaigns and platforms will be used to create better awareness of nutritional requirements and opportunities. The project will be implemented in partnership with the Dairy Development Authority and Dutch dairy experts from The Friesian and Wageningen University.