Source : UDB
Members from different Dairy Cooperatives in Ankole sub-region listen in during the half-day workshop at Lake View Hotel in Mbarara City, Uganda
Uganda Development Bank (UDB) has urged dairy farmers to adopt solar-powered milk storage systems to reduce spoilage and improve milk quality.
The call was made during an engagement between UDB and 50 dairy and livestock cooperatives in Ankole sub-region held on April 30 at Lake View Hotel in Mbarara City in Western Uganda, a part of the country that is predominant with livestock farming. The engagement was organized in collaboration with Uganda Crane Creameries Cooperative Union (UCCCU).
This was part of the Bank’s stakeholder engagement initiatives ahead of implementation of a program that seeks to integrate solar energy in the dairy sector and water for production.
The program will; enhance milk productivity; ensure safe water access; and build climate-resilience by investing in purchase and installation of solar systems for powering the cooler systems and pumping water. During the workshop, farmers said unreliable hydropower supply continues to disrupt milk preservation, prompting calls for alternative energy solutions to support stable dairy storage.
Oscar Ankunda, Senior Investment Manager, Infrastructure at Uganda Development Bank explained that the Productive Use of Solar Energy (PUSE) program will enhance the capacity of milk processing facilities to preserve fresh milk which is critical in realizing government’s efforts towards agro-processing.
Ankunda, Senior Investment Manager, Infrastructure at Uganda Development Bank speaks during the engagement
“Research shows that milk collection centres that have installed commercial and industrial solar systems have cut their operational costs by 65 percent after transitioning from diesel-powered generators,” Ankunda said.
Enock Nuwabiine, the Chairman Bukanga Dairy Cooperative Society in Isingiro district says on average, the Cooperative Society spends UGX 2 million monthly on hydropower bills. This compares to UGX 5 million spent on a diesel-powered generator each month, which is the power source that the Cooperative relies on mainly.
“We were forced to buy a generator due to the unstable supply of hydropower. However, generators require a lot of maintenance. Secondly, the price of fuel keeps fluctuating. For example, in Isingiro, a litre of diesel is currently at UGX 10,000,” Nuwabiine said on the sidelines of the workshop.
Enock Nuwabiine makes a submission
The livestock sector in Uganda is a vital component of the agricultural economy, contributing approximately 21 percent of agricultural GDP and supporting over 58 percent of households. Despite a 3 percent annual growth rate, the sector operates below its potential due to challenges in productivity, processing, and market access.
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