East Africa's Dairy Industry gets New Players

Africa Agribusiness Academy Communication Officer Nairobi Mercy Mumo (R) with AAA officials Ms Catherine Osterwijk (C) and Ms Rashim Nakibuuka (L) attending to their clients while displaying some of their Milk products during the Dairy event at Africana Hotel on Friday. PHOTO BY JOSEPH KIGGUNDU

What you need to know:

lightly over 20% of the country’s milk output is processed

KAMPALA
The current structure of the East African dairy industry is set to change with the Africa Agribusiness Academy(AAA) introducing a working group on Dairy – the Dairy Community of Practice (Dairy CoP).
The Dairy CoP is aimed at meeting the needs of the dairy value chain encourage knowledge & information sharing, research and technology.
According to Mercy Mumo the AAA’s Communication Officer, members will be able to articulate, share and develop professional practical knowledge about dairy value chain.

“Through this we will build and exploit partnerships among the dairy value chain actors and other relevant sector players and hence contribute to the development of the dairy sector in Africa.”
She added that the CoP’s major goal is to advance practical knowledge and enhance the role of the dairy sector in African countries and to contribute to livelihood and nutritional wellbeing of the population.
“Business opportunities will be created by putting into practice what is learned and a joint effort will be applied in responding to challenges (e.g. accessing supplies/inputs, equipment, partnerships, product innovation).”

It will also lead to the acquisition stimulating the use of improved technologies/equipment and infrastructure for milk handling to reduce losses. Total national milk production in Uganda grew from 460 million litres in 1990 to 1.6 billion litres in 2011, with per capita milk consumption growing from 16 litres in 1986 to 58 litres by 2010.
While milk production in Uganda has improved, the biggest percentage goes unprocessed. Slightly over 20% of the country’s milk output is processed. Also the country’s farmers and other value chain members need to get together and improve Uganda’s dairy production which is largely dominated by small-scale farmers, who own over 90% of the national cattle population.

Some of the Dairy CoP’s characteristics
•Increased individual expertise
•practical experiences for members
•Support to individual professional development