Kisoro milk levels triples

Aug 04, 2010

MILK production in Kisoro district has more than tripled, thanks to the provision of improved cattle breeds and training in animal husbandry by the district NAADS programme.

By Stephen Nuwagira

MILK production in Kisoro district has more than tripled, thanks to the provision of improved cattle breeds and training in animal husbandry by the district NAADS programme.

Edgar Banda, the NAADS co-ordinator, said milk production had risen from about 350 litres a day to 1,250 over the past two years.

The programme, Banda said, provided 148 in-calf Friesian heifers under the zero-grazing project to farmers in Kirundo and Rubuguri sub-counties, hence the increase.

Kisoro is a crop agriculture district with few people rearing goats or cattle. Those who have cattle, have local breeds that are poor at milk production.

The co-ordinator revealed that the impressive performance attracted the UN food agency, the Food and Agriculture Organisation to partner with NAADS, the farmers and Virunga Dairies, a private milk processing firm in Kisoro town to enhance the zero-grazing project.

The deal ensures that Virunga Dairies provides a ready market for farmers, while NAADS is expected to train farmers in cattle management and other modern farming skills such as bookkeeping, hygiene and marketing, the Banda said.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation donated a 3,000-litre cooler and a milk tanker to the farmers to transport the milk.

“Due to the ready market, the price of milk has shot up to sh400 from sh150 previously. Farmers are also gaining from animal waste, which they use as manure in their gardens to increase output,” Banda said.

He pointed out that under the Food and Agriculture Organisation deal, about 200 zero-grazing farmers have been trained in Rubuguri and Kirundo sub-counties.

He revealed that more improved cattle would be given to farmers increase the district’s milk market share.

According to Nzabandora, a farmer from Kirundo, the programme has equipped them with knowledge on proper animal husbandry, enabling them to take proper care of their cattle which was not the case before.
“We know how to grow pastures and legumes, ensure hygiene and manage our projects as money-making enterprises to improve our household incomes,” he said.

According to Banda, Virunga Dairies used to get most of its milk from Rubaare in Ntungamo, but the Kisoro farmers now supply the firm with almost half of the milk needed.

He said the farmers were organised under the Rubuguri Dairy Farmers Association to get support from SACCOs and NAADS under the Prosperity for All programme.

Dairy farming is one the major strategic projects in the district. Others are commercial onion and irish potato production, piggery and poultry.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});