Value addition: Nwoya livestock farmers ask for govt support

NWOYA –Nwoya livestock keepers want government to help them to start adding value to the animal products as opposed to selling their live animals to middlemen.

The farmers under  Pamin-Owot Livestock Cooperative Society Limited argue that apart from selling the animals to the middlemen, they would also like to produce products like yoghurt, ghee, and others from hides and horns.

At the moment a bull that weighs 90 kilogrammes, goes for Shs 1.5 million in the local market in the district.

Janat Kipwola, who has been in animal rearing for 15 years, says they have appealed to the district several times, but that there has been no positive response.

“We want to add value to what we produce. If we can process yogurt, ghee, and other products, they will boost our incomes,’’ she said.

District Veterinary Officer Dr Isacca Mayende, said that the district has plans to help farmers produce yogurt and ghee, and other products, even though he added that will happen in the years ahead as milk production in the district increases.

“Value addition can be done when milk production is high, but at the moment, it’s still low,’’ Mayende said.

Coordinator Operation Wealth Creation Acholi Sub-region Brig Gen Francis Achoka, said he will reach out to the farmers to asses viability for value addition.

“My team will reach out to them and assess their capacity before a recommendation is done,’’ he advised.

Nwoya district is known for enterprises such as growing rice, maize, and livestock-keeping.

Recently this news website reported that livestock farmers in the district have been affected by the prolonged dry spell that has left grazing fields dry, with little or no water for the animals.

https://thecooperator.news/prolonged-dry-spell-bothers-nwoya-livestock-farmers/

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