Kiruhura dairy farmers petition Museveni over fake acaricides

AGRIBUSINESS

KIRUHURA-Dairy farmers in Kiruhura district have petitioned President Yoweri Museveni over the escalating supply of fake Acaricides on the market which has left many heads of cattle dead.

Keishe Emmanuel one of the dairy farmers in Kenshunga sub-county, Nyabushozi county kiruhura district said there are ticks that are resistant to the acaricides they buy on the market.

"I have lost over 151 cows in three years and it's not only me, but many farmers also fall in the same boat," Keishe said.

He added, "When we raised this matter government through the line ministry had promised that they are trying to trace where these fake acaricides are being sold and who brings them but the problem has persisted"

They petitioned Museveni through Mary Karoro Okurut, the minister for general duties in the office of the prime minister during a baraza meeting held on Wednesday at Kenshunga sub-county headquarters.

Minister Karoro testing the locally parked yogurt at the community Balaza on Wednesday

"Why can't the government allow us to bring our own acaricides from manufacturers outside this country, because we know where good acaricides are, we have cooperatives the government should help us and save the situation" Keishe prayed.

Milk production

Keishe further noted that the prices of milk per litre has drastically dropped, yet they have high costs of production.

"When you look at the basic inputs to produce a litre of milk, it goes for sh551 when you add the  cost at which one buys a cow a litre goes for sh 900, but what annoys us apparently a litre is being bought at sh400 and sh350."

He said there has been an outcry as most of their children are malnourished given the fact that all milk is sold.

"There is no way we can give children milk when it's the only source of income, whatever drop of milk we get, we have to rush it to the collection centers so as to earn a living. Most of the farmers are operating on loans because they acquired loans not knowing that the prices will drop to sh300."   

He further noted that milk cooperatives were to sell milk to processors but apparently processors have put up collecting centers near their cooperatives which has created stiff competition.

He proposed that there should be policies and regulations protecting farmers' cooperatives without suffocating them.  "Its true people have been talking about, water and electricity but the issue of income might affect the political support of Museveni in 2021."

Apollo Ndahura also a dairy farmer told the minister that they have a problem of tsetse flies from Lake Mburo National park that have become a menace to their cows.

"We are in an economic war, some of these farmers have failed to service their loans and they are at the verge of being arrested, we call upon the government to bail us out since the only source of income which is milk, its prices have dropped," said Ndahura.

In response, Minister Karoro said the government is aware of their cries, especially on low milk prices. She noted that the government is working on the policy of ensuring that all primary schools feed pupils on milk which can provide another market for milk. 

She also reminded them that most of these issues of fake acaricides and low prices of milk are already in the office of the president but promised to remind him as a matter of emphasis.

On insecurity

Karoro noted that most Ugandans have lost lives to isolated criminals gangs which the government is trying to wipe out, however, noted that she is not in support of the policy of sentencing convicts to prison when incriminating evidence is substantial.