Agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze has expressed gratitude that milk prices have stabilized.

In a statement issued today (February 24, 2022), the minister said, “Am very happy to learn from many dairy farmers across the country that milk prices now have been stable for the last six months averaging between sh900 and sh1200 per litre at the farm gate.”

At the beginning of 2020, Kenya banned dairy imports from Uganda citing complaints by Kenyan farmers over the influx of Ugandan milk which was being priced lower than the one produced in their home country.

The action by Kenya caused milk prices to fall to as low as sh300 per litre at farm gate and it greatly demoralized dairy farmers.

Tumwebaze assured farmers that as more regional markets open up and with many farmers adopting modern farming practices, demand will be sustainable.

“We are also enacting the Animals Feeds law to regulate and ensure that farmers get high quality feeds for their animals,” he noted.

The minister also revealed that they have embarked on reviewing the old veterinary and surgeons law to ensure effective animal disease control by regulating work of the various veterinary practitioners.

“In addition, the strategy on beef export based on the animal identification and traceability system is also being finalized,” he stated.

The minister commended dairy farmers for fixing issues of quality which he believes has created sustainable demand for milk.

Reports from the ministry of agriculture, animal industry, and fisheries indicate Uganda’s dairy exports exponentially as evidenced by an increase in export earnings from $30m (2014) to about $150m (2018).

The rapid sector growth is mainly attributed to foreign investment in the country’s processing capacity, stronger cold chain network, and increased investment by farmers in farm infrastructure and herds.