Dairy exports contributed to 42 percent of total agricultural exports for the year
Ugandan dairy farmers should have a smile in their pockets! This is because Uganda has reached an agreement with the Zambian government to export at least 700metric tons of powder milk to Zambia.
Dr Micheal Kansiime, the Dairy Development Authority Executive Director, says “The Zambian government has given an importation license to Coca Cola beverages, Zambia to import powder milk from Uganda,”
The development is welcome given the fact that the previous major market for Uganda powder milk in Kenya was suspended at the end of 2019. Major producers of powder milk in Uganda include Lato milk.
According to a recent report from the Dairy Development Authority (DDA), Dairy exports in the country reached a record high of sh341.8b in the last four years and nearly doubled compared to last FY 2019/20. This is mainly attributed to strong emphasis on compliance to international standards by the authority and also the penetration of the Algerian market. Total milk products valued at sh12.075b were imported.
“The country had a positive balance of trade since the value of milk products exports continue to significantly outperform the imports. Dairy exports contributed to 42 percent of total agricultural exports for the year,” the report says. At the lower end of the dairy value chain, milk production volume estimates reached 2.81 billion litres short of the target of 3.0 billion litres.
