The success stories coming out of Uganda’s dairy industry are both inspiring and instructive. With little to no impact on the environment, dairy farmers have changed the lives of their communities. It is a game changer for smallholder farmers in the country. There has been a remarkable rise in dairy production in the last decade.

Traders turned into thriving dairy farmers; women’s groups changed local communities by selling milk; and they also started using modern techniques to increase milk production and keep their cattle out of harm’s way. They created jobs for their families and raised the living standards of the people in the dairy business.

The dairy industry and sub-sector changed drastically when milk processing was privatized in the 1990s.

Dairy farmers like Philomena are role models for dairy farming and women’s empowerment.

Diversification and farming dairy, coffee, and other bean crops together are more profitable than wasting arable land only on cattle.

The success stories from dairy farming highlight how much profit potential the livestock sector has in Uganda.

Before the 1980s milk production in the country was divided into two systems. Exotic and cross-bred cattle in government-owned dairy farms and pastoralists keeping large herds of local breeds like the Small East African Zebu. 

The industry took a hit with the introduction of the National Economic Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Development programs launched in 1986. This is where the Heifer Project International started using the zero-grazing method. They kept the cattle in stalls permanently and brought feed and water directly to them. They also provided in-calf dairy heifers to beneficiaries and trained them.

The Ugandan government launched the Milk Master Plan in 1992. The government monopoly on milk processing was crushed to bits in 1993. Milk processing in Uganda is heavily privatized these days. The government of Uganda to this day prioritizes the dairy sector. In light of that, they identified both beef and dairy as priority commodities in the third National Development Plan (NDP III) for the 2020/21-2024/25 period. They also adopted the Dairy Policy Action Plan in August 2022 which outlines policy interventions and actions to boost the dairy sector.

Philomena Kemijumbi Nshangano is a model dairy farmer in Uganda. She started her journey in 1977 with her husband. Soon after, she lost her husband and had to take care of the farm by herself. She transformed their farm into a thriving business.

She used modern practices like synchronization and artificial insemination to increase milk output. Her approach did not go unnoticed. As her farm was taking off, she started to get attention and recognition for a job well done. Her farm became a model for her local community. She extended work to female housewives who were not contributing to the economy.

By 2016, Philomena’s farm became so successful that it got the distinction of being a Practical Dairy Training Farm. Other farmers, especially women started coming to her farm to learn about the best practices of dairy farming. She gladly took the role of being a mentor. She has taught hundreds of farmers how to manage their farms more efficiently.

She encourages other farmers to adopt new technologies. Many farmers were able to transform their farms into profitable businesses. To this day, she remains passionate about dairy farming. She wants to share her knowledge and experience so others can make their lives as good as her own. She has gotten some rewards as a token of her success and generosity in training other women.

2012 Celebrated Woman dairy farmer by Uganda Crane Creameries Cooperative

2013 African Woman Farmer award in Cape Town

In 2014 and 2016 she was the Platinum Winner of the National Dairy Quality Awards in the medium segment

Model Farmer in the Excellence Awards for the best dairy cow of the year 2015 and 2016

She also got a 1000-litre capacity milk cooler and a generator in 2014 from the Dairy Development Authority.

Over 70 percent of all employed women and almost all rural women in Uganda work in agriculture. The dairy sector in particular is providing opportunities for women’s empowerment. Ownership of dairy cows is important for women to be relevant in the sector. 

The National Agricultural Advisory Services program does public-private extension services. This program empowers farmers to demand and control agricultural advisory. One of its key aspects is its focus on marginalized groups, especially women and people with disabilities and youth. People like Philomena are key figures in pulling up the women in Ugandan Communities.

Perez Byakumanya is a 53-year-old farmer from the Murao village in Uganda’s Sheema district. He has an intriguing story of being successful with dairy farming. He started his ventures in retail after dropping out of school but failed to break even and went back to his village in 1996.

Source: Monitor ePaper

His father had left him indigenous cows. He set out to improve their condition but it was very slow at first with nothing to show against his hard work. He also faced other issues like a shortage of feed during dry seasons leading to his cows starving. His cattle also had a serious case of persistent tick problems. Milk prices were fluctuating very often when he started and he could not maintain a stable income.

Even with the low yields, Perez Byakumanya did not give up. He expanded his herd to 30 animals and started practicing better maintenance methods for his cattle. His dedication to his dairy farm paid off and it became a stable source of income for his growing family. He was able to pay for his children’s education and invest in expanding his farm.

Dairy farming is a labor-intensive job. With zero grazing the cattle need to be fed in the barn. When his dairy farm took off, he started keeping the cattle inside and used the land he had to produce coffee. He expanded to grow both lowland and elite varieties of coffee. He now holds a leadership position in his community.

The Omito Women’s Group in Lira is comprised of 15 women. They created a savings and loan system for their members, which was the foundation of their unity. When they reached out to NAADS in 2017, they were given two in-calf heifers.

They sell 20 litres of milk daily from the heifers earning around 30000 to 40000 shillings. They also sell manure to local farmers and earn around 1 million shillings per year from cow dung alone. With this income, they give employment opportunities to orphan children like Kenneth Tia. The success of the Omito Women’s group shows the potential of dairy farming to transform lives.

The dairy farming stories are filled with challenges in the beginning. However, after all the hardships, the light that these people see is of success. Transforming your own life along with your family and community is no small feat. That is why these success stories need to be etched into every dreamer’s mind.

Dairy farming does not need a whole lot of cash to succeed. What you need to put in is unbreakable determination, hard work, and hope. These success stories tell the same thing which is to keep going.