$35 Million Investment To Boost Food Security In East Africa

The agricultural sector in Uganda remains a cornerstone of the economy, employing approximately 72% of the population and contributing about 24.1% to the GDP. The dairy sector alone is valued at US$3.8 billion, with exports bringing in US$106.2 million annually. Milk and dairy products play a crucial role in combating hunger and ensuring food security in the region.

Despite impressive growth, the dairy sector faces challenges such as strong seasonal fluctuations in raw milk supplies, underutilized processing capacity, prevalent informal trade, quality issues limiting international trade, and dependency on demand from key export markets like Kenya.

Household consumption of milk is also low, with Ugandans drinking only around 0.5 liters (550 milliliters) per day, significantly below the recommended intake by FAO and WHO.

In response, Uganda’s Dairy Development Authority (DDA) has initiated the Dairy Policy Action Plan, adopted in August 2022. This multi-year plan engages stakeholders to implement policy interventions aimed at boosting consumption, incentivizing production, improving quality, and accessing new markets.

African news/Jide Johnson.