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Dairy farming has been on the rise in part due to the rise in processing plants and value addition. We continue to see less and less imported dairy products because Ugandan processors have upped their game & can add value to milk.
There has been natural import substitution without necessarily imposing protectionist tendencies on the dairy sub-sector. Growing up, you'd see the occasional NIDO tin, which was often viewed to be somewhat meant for those who were well-off.
NIDO powdered milk esp sec. school was also visible. While some of us took brown porridge (boil water & add it to brown flour), some would add the boiled water to powdered milk, NIDO. NIDO was imported. Uganda didn't have powdered milk produced in Uganda. Now, we produce + export
The 2.4 billion litres of milk a year produced by Ugandan farmers means the opportunity to export has also grown. The export market, esp Kenya is lucrative. Due to "economies of scale", Ugandan milk & products are better priced than the same products in some regional countries.
Estimates from from two Diary factories, Pearl Farm Dairies (LATO Milk makes) & Lakeside Dairy export at least over 70% of what they process. However, with restrictions in Kenya (trade war), border closure with Rwanda & Tanzania imposing a levy, exporting is at near standstill
As @Jude_Mugabi writes, "Uganda’s dairy sector on its knees" because if we can't export, then keeping the factories operating at 100% doesn't make business sense. https://medium.com/@mugabijude/milk-dumping-a-reality-and-covid-is-not-to-blame-for-ugandas-case-f9b0f295e977
And @nimusiima, the creative writer that he is tells the story of the farmer. The farmer pouring milk.
"Here, milk is our oil. Our gold. Our coal. It’s all we have. It pays our school fees, our rent, our everything." http://nimusiima.com/milking-livelihood-dry/
"Here, milk is our oil. Our gold. Our coal. It’s all we have. It pays our school fees, our rent, our everything." http://nimusiima.com/milking-livelihood-dry/
Remember the phrase the "land of milk & honey?" Oh well @ssojo81 contextualizes it by writing that we have enough milk to "share with our neighbours" however, that milk has now turned bitter sweet. https://ssenyonga.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/the-rains-started-beating-our-dairy-sector-before-covid-19/
And I also weigh in on the issue, pointing out that our industrialization to make business sense, we should be able to export the surplus we can't consume. Those markets are now the lifeblood for thousands of jobs for factory workers & farmers https://mumakeith.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/ugandas-milk-at-crossroads/
