Dairy farmers decry low milk prices

Dairy farmers in Western Uganda have resolved to petition parliament over the low prices of milk.

They accuse processors of refusing to involve them while determining the prices at which their milk is bought and offering them pea nuts.

The farmers have also threatened to stop supplying processors with milk if the low prices are not addressed.

For as low as Shs 300 per liter, farmers say they sell off their milk to processors and middlemen.

These later sell the milk at Shs 1000 to Shs 3000 depending on the season or place.

This leaves the farmer feeling cheated.

With the prices of acaricides on the increase and resistant ticks a burden, some say their milk is bought at give away prices.

They also accuse processors of over stepping their mandate and collecting milk from individual farmers.

They have now petitioned parliament to save the situation as they also come up with short, medium and long term plans to save the dairy industry from what they termed as exploitation.

Some milk processors said it is difficult to involve farmers in determining prices.

The processors accused farmers of refusing to understand the dynamics of the market.

But stakeholders say if the situation is not handled the dairy sector is headed for problems.