In a thought-provoking speech at the African Dairy Conference organized by the Eastern and Southern African Dairy Association (ESADA), Uganda's Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, delivered a passionate call for self-reliance in the dairy sector lamenting the irony of Uganda importing dairy products from Europe while the nation possesses untapped potential within its borders.
Tumwebaze’ s remarks, delivered at Hotel Africana, aimed to address critical challenges, create new markets, and accelerate growth in the dairy industry.
He pointed out the paradox of Uganda, a nation abundant with dairy products, resorting to imports from Europe, and emphasized the untapped potential for Uganda to trade its dairy products not only within its borders but also across East and Southern African nations.
"The time has come for Uganda to harness its dairy potential fully," Tumwebaze declared. "We have the capacity to meet our dairy needs domestically and contribute to the region's growth."
The Minister also highlighted the role of the dairy sector in poverty alleviation, stressing the need for supportive regulations throughout the entire dairy value chain. He called for a shift from prohibitive regulations to those that foster growth and sustainability.
Peter Akankeza, the acting Executive Director of the Dairy Development Authority, shared encouraging statistics, revealing that Uganda's dairy production had surged to an impressive 3.85 billion liters, with a significant 40% originating from marketing milk.
However, one pressing concern raised during the conference was the impact of climate change on animal feed production. With dwindling resources, the need for innovative solutions to support this essential aspect of dairy farming became undeniable.
"The dairy sector's future depends on adapting to the challenges posed by climate change," Akankeza emphasized. "We must find sustainable solutions to ensure the continued growth of our industry."
The African Dairy Conference was hailed as a beacon of hope and progress for the Eastern and Southern African Dairy Association, uniting key players with a shared vision of growth, sustainability, and self-sufficiency. As the dairy industry evolves to meet the challenges of the future, Uganda stands poised to reclaim its place as a self-reliant dairy producer on the global stage.
In conclusion, Minister Tumwebaze’ s impassioned call for self-reliance in Uganda's dairy sector echoed through the conference, setting the stage for a dairy industry that leverages its untapped potential and contributes to regional growth while tackling the challenges of climate change head-on.