Nigeria is set to start importing milk and coffee from Uganda, a development highlighted during former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent visit to President Yoweri Museveni. This meeting, which included a tour of Pearl Dairy Farms Limited in Mbarara City, signaled a significant opportunity for Uganda’s dairy and coffee sectors.....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Obasanjo expressed his enthusiasm upon discovering Uganda’s impressive capacity to produce 5.7 billion liters of milk annually. He assured Ugandan farmers that Nigeria is eager to purchase processed milk and coffee, stating, “I am here to see how Nigeria can buy Ugandan milk, expand production of processed milk and coffee.” He emphasized the irony of Nigeria importing milk from Europe while Uganda is a net exporter in Africa.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, noted that the country currently spends about $1.5 billion annually on dairy imports due to a significant production deficit. Local consumption is around 1.6 billion liters per year, yet local production only meets about 40% of this demand.
Abdullahi highlighted the nutritional deficiencies in Nigeria, where approximately two million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition exacerbated by a lack of access to animal-source foods like milk.
Ugandan manufacturers previously urged their government to take action against Kenya, which imposed a ban on Ugandan powdered milk, citing protection of local producers. This ban has raised concerns about Uganda’s export potential in key East African markets, including Kenya.
President Museveni thanked Obasanjo for his visit and the potential partnership. He assured that Uganda can meet both local and international demand for milk and coffee. During the visit, Museveni also addressed the importance of adopting zero grazing and implementing better farming practices to enhance profitability.
He encouraged families to register their businesses to avoid conflicts over property divisions, highlighting that Ugandan farmers are producing for the entire African market, not just Uganda.
Hon. Bright Rwamirama, the Minister of State for Animal Industry, revealed that Uganda’s current export value stands at $264.5 million. He also informed farmers about government initiatives to combat tick infestations to boost milk production, with a vaccine currently in development.
This partnership marks a promising step for Uganda’s agricultural exports and highlights the importance of regional cooperation in addressing food security and economic growth in Africa…CLICK HERE FOR MORE ARTICLE>>>
