Pasteurised machine boosts milk production

By Andrew Masinde                                    

KABAROLE - Dairy farmers in Kabarole district are jubilant over a boost in milk production.

The farmers under their umbrella group Toro dairy cooperative society are from Fort Portal town council and the neighbouring villages. 

The farmers say they have improved their dairy farms because they are assured of ready market provided by their cooperative society.

Fred Kwikiriza is a dairy farmer who delivers 100 litres of milk every day. He says before he sold only 25 litres of milk in the neighbourhood and a cup was sold at shs300.

Farmers delivering milk in cans

“When I decided to join Toro dairy cooperative, things changed. They always train us in good dairy farming and the prices for milk are also relatively higher. I brought milk in a plastic jerrycan and it was rejected, and was requested to buy milk cans. I had no money at the time but was referred to the dairy shop where I was given a can on credit. I paid it back after I had sold my milk,” he explains.

One of the proud cooperative members on his farm

Kwikiriza is among the hundreds of dairy farmers whose milk production has improved due to the introduction of a pasteurizing machine in Fort Portal.

The machine was a presidential pledge in 2010, which was fulfilled through the NAADS program.

According to Harriet Akengo, the manager, since the introduction of the machine, the cooperative gets over 3000 litres of milk everyday compared to only 900 litres then and a unit price of sh600.

Milk processing going on

“A litre now costs sh1200 when the milk is pasteurised, and when packed it is sold sh1400. We have also started producing new products such vanilla and straw berry yogurt. We also have a new brand called Beta milk that is sold as far as Kampala supermarkets. We now process 1000 litters of pastuerised and raw milk,” Akengo boasts.

Akengo says farmers are now assured of ready market for their milk at the end of the day. 

“Through the improved and increased production of milk, we have managed to start up a development farm supply shop with all animal drugs and dairy equipments,” she explains.

She adds that the cooperative buys the milk on credit and at the end of the week, the farmers are paid.

Charles Kakibogo, the chairman of the cooperative says they would buy milk in small quantities because of lack of machines, and we were selling it raw and the competition was high.

He adds that the farmers used to be cheated by local milk buyers, with a cup of milk costing sh400 yet the farmers had no better alternative. 

He adds that the machine has increased the membership in the cooperative from 15 to 90 dairy farmers.

The farmers are from around Fort Portal and the neighbouring districts.

Akengo says they are hoping to increase the production of parked and pasteurised milk because of high demand.

“We produce high quality milk so in future we can start exporting our dairy products to neighbouring countries. This is the only way we can increase our income base,” she explained.

The cooperative plans to expand the market such that they satisfy all the farmers’ needs. They also want to diversify the milk products such that consumers can have a variety to enjoy.

“That is why we have introduced yoghurt on the market and it is picking very fast. We hope that one day we shall expand the market where we shall supply a variety of milk products.”