Govt official wants dairy cooperatives in Bunyoro supported with value addition plant

MASINDI, April 12, 2024 – Annet Kyomuhendo, the Midwestern Regional  Manager for the Dairy Development Authority [DDA], has asked government to establish a modern processing plant for dairy cooperatives in Bunyoro Sub-region, arguing that the area produces much milk but value addition is lacking.

Kyomuhendo made the call yesterday while speaking to over 200 women entrepreneurs at Kabalega Resort in Masindi town during the launch of Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises Project or GROW Project. Among others, the World Bank-funded project targets women entrepreneurs involved in apiary and dairy farming.

The project launch was presided over by Balaam Barugahara, the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs. The project is run by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, and Private Sector Foundation Uganda [PSFU].

“I am happy that under this project dairy farmers are going to be supported. As DDA we are we are working with four dairy cooperatives in Masindi but what’s missing is value addition. I am urging minister Balaam to lobby for us a large scale milk processing plant in this region such that milk production is boosted. Good enough GROW project has partnered with us. We are going to add value to our milk .We are also going to train these women on how to make yoghurt and ice cream. We are also aiming at seeing improved nutrition at the house level,” Kyomuhendo noted.

She said they are working with four dairy cooperatives including Ntooma Dairy Cooperative, Kaikuku Dairy Cooperative, Kijunjubwa Dairy Cooperative and Kikingura Dairy Cooperative.

She explained that there’s a lot of milk is produced in Bunyoro Sub-region but farmers are not benefiting from it because of lack of value addition equipment.

Emmy Ngabirano the Resident District Commissioner Masindi also explained that the cooperatives are existing, adding that they have enough milk but lack value addition facilities.

Presiding over the launch of GROW Project, minister Barugagara said: “After I was appointed minister, President Museveni invited me to Kisozi and tasked me to transform the residents of Masindi from poverty to the money economy. I am now looking for five acres of land to establish a demonstration farm where residents of Masindi will be able to learn the best agronomic practices. I want to teach them how to invest in high paying enterprises.”

In his response to  the plea for the value addition facilities, Barugahara promised to engage the line ministry to ensure that a modern facility for milk value addition is secured for Bunyoro Sub-region.

“I am promising to follow the right procedures to ensure that your requests are answered,” he said. He asked the people of Masindi to grow crops like coffee, fruits and also to invest in livestock, urging the women of Masindi to  strategies such that they are able benefit from the US$ 217 million [over Shs 800 billion] project.

GROW Project will also support the government to establish an integrated programme of customised services that will empower women entrepreneurs to grow and transition their enterprises from micro to small and from small to medium as well as improve their productivity.

The project has four components including support for women empowerment and enterprise development services, access to finance for women entrepreneurs, enabling infrastructural and program management support.

“Women from different enterprise groups will be able to access  money to develop their enterprises. I am urging them to use it well to help them improve their household income. When you access this money don’t use it for luxurious things. But invest it wisely,” he advised.

“The GROW project will contribute to the Government of Uganda’s NDP III goal that explicitly calls for promoting women’s economic empowerment, leadership and participation in decision making through investment in entrepreneurship programmes and business centres. The project also aims to holistically tackle some of the structural barriers hindering the growth of women owned businesses including financial inclusion, business development services, infrastructure and promoting community mobilisation and mindset change to ensure effective participation of women in the development process,” the minister explained.

On her part, Ever Katusiime, the Environment Specialist Designate who represented Aggrey Kibenge the Permanent Secretary of Gender ministry,  said women dairy farmers an bee keepers stand to benefit from the GROW project.

Meanwhile, Florence Asiimwe, the Masindi district Woman Member of Parliament challenged her fellow women to embrace the project.” Money has been injected in the project for you to get skills. Use this opportunity and improve your household incomes. Make sure that whatever you pick, you use it resourcefully. Time is going to come and we  visit you to see how you are progressing,” said Asiimwe.

In the same vein, Cosmas Byaruhanga, the Masindi district LCV Chairperson noted that women in Uganda face many challenges including men who abandon their families.

“Most of the responsibilities have been left to women and yet they are not empowered to carry them on. But this is because most of them [women] are engaged micro scale income generating activities. Women can also engage in well paying enterprises. I want to commend government for coming out with such a project [GROW project] of uplifting women,” he said.

https://thecooperator.news/over-350-farmer-cooperatives-supported-to-boost-value-addition/

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