Fresh Dairy donates 600 litres of milk to Dairy Development Authority for June Dairy Month 2018

Fresh Dairy has donated 600 litres of milk to Dairy Development Authority (DDA) in support of June Dairy Month 2018.

June Dairy Month is an annual “Dairy Month event” celebrated worldwide to honour stakeholders within the dairy sector including dairy farmers, dairy processors, traders, and their families who work hard every day to provide fresh, whole some milk and milk products for everyone. This year’s June Dairy Month celebration will be held in North-Eastern region at Soroti Sports Ground, Soroti Municipality from 26th – 28th June 2018.

Speaking during the donation exercise held on 26th June 2018 at DDA offices, Vincent Omoth, Marketing Manager Fresh Dairy applauded DDA for annually overseeing the June Dairy Month which gives farmers and other stakeholders within the dairy sector an opportunity to celebrate achievements, learn new skills and market their products and services.

“We are grateful to DDA for annually recognizing the efforts of the stakeholders within the dairy sector through the June Dairy Month and we will continue to show our support in order to encourage consumption of milk in vulnerable institutions such as schools and hospitals,” he said.

Omoth added, “Fresh Dairy majorly owes its success to the hard work and diligence of dairy farmers in Uganda from whom we collect milk for processing our products. We currently work with over 30,000 farmers.”

This year’s June Dairy Month theme” Gender inclusion for wealth and health in Milk production and consumption” is geared towards acknowledging women’s significant contribution to agriculture, food security and the country’s GDP in general. It also aims at promoting women’s economic empowerment in an effort to contribute to the sustainable Development Goal 5.

According to DDA, Uganda’s dairy sector has grown over the years with an increase from 2.08 billion litres in 2015 to approximately 2.5 billion litres in 2017/18 representing a 6% annual growth rate. Milk per capita consumption has also since increased from 25 liters in 1986 to approximately 62 liters in 2017. Dairy exports stood at US $ 60 million in 2016 and have now increased to USD 130 million in 2017 while Dairy imports dropped from USD 5.4 million to USD 5.2 million over the same period. The increase in the net exports has been a result of increased compliance of Uganda’s milk and milk products on both regional and international Markets.

Agnes Baguma, Regional Manager Central, DDA who received the milk from Fresh Dairy explained that one of the key activities during the June Dairy Month celebration is promotion of milk consumption which is in line with World Health Organizations’ (WHO) recommendation of 200 litters of milk per capita consumption. “Milk is also regarded as an excellent source of essential nutrients such as proteins, calcium, phosphorous, carbohydrates, fats, Vitamins A, B6 and B12 that are easily digested by children and adults for proper development of the brain, body, strong bones, energy and good eye sight.”

She thanked Fresh Dairy for the milk donation and explained that the would be distributed to various schools, hospitals and barracks.

The other activities scheduled for this year’s June Dairy Month in Soroti include;

Demonstration of the latest dairy technologies coupled with exhibitions by dairy stakeholders (Input dealers, farmers, farmers’ organizations, dairy processors)

Promotion of milk consumption among school going children in line with the school milk program

Corporate Social Responsibility at Soroti police Barracks and Soroti General Hospital on the 27th and 28th June 2018 respectively.

Commissioning of the rehabilitated Soroti Milk collection center (MCC).

Fresh Dairy will be part of the exhibitors of the June Dairy Month 2018 Celebrations in Soroti.