EADD Uganda Newsletter Issue 1

EAST AFRICAN DAIRY DEVELOPMENT (EADD)PROJECT -UGANDA LAUNCHED Issue 1 September 2008 Foreword from Country Program Manager t his is the first issue of The East African Dairy Development Project (EADD) - Uganda newsletter. This newsletter will serve as an opportunity for updating our partners on the progress towards implementing of the project and for staff to share out their key competences. EADD is a 4 year (2008 - 2012) poverty reduction project that will move small holder women and men farmers out of poverty by improving their profit participation in the dairy value chain. The project’s adopted hub model of farmer owned chilling plants (CP) will ensure tack- ling many challenges which the small holder Mr. William Matovu farmers have been facing along the dairy value HEIFER PROJECT INTERNATIONAL UGANDA Country Program Manager EADDP – Uganda chain. The project is funded by Bill and EADD-UGANDA NEWSLETTER Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and implemented by Heifer Project International (HPI) as the lead agency. Other implementing partners are Technoserve (TNS), African Breeders Services - Total Cattle Management (ABS –TCM), International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) and Interna- tional Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). For the past 6 months we have been focusing on the key project start up activities one of which was to constitute the EADD team, setting up the office and selecting the sites for the project location and analyzing our stakeholders, all aimed at addressing the project vision of doubling the dairy income of 45,000 small holder farmers in 13 districts of cen- tral Uganda by 2012. Site selection was the key activity in the first 3 months and the Uganda team was able to identify 10 sites for the CPs and 5 sites for the traditional hub model (TM). The team has embarked on the farmer mobilization agenda especially to ensure that 2 CPs and 1 TM are set up this year. The project will be implemented by a team of about 35 staff experienced in the dairy sector and in the field of rural development. Please join me in congratulating the whole team for having accepted to be part of this noble cause. We look forward to contribute towards achieving the vision of the EADD project. Country Project Manager EADD-Uganda Inside this issue: Upcoming events Launching the EADD–Uganda Pg 2 • Another batch of selected farmers EADD Uganda progress activities Pg 3-6 from EADD sites to visit Kenya hubs in October 2008 Employee news Pg 7-15 Picture gallery Pg 16 • First chilling plant set to be installed in December 2008

Launching of the EADD– Uganda The East African Dairy Development Project continue to support the poverty reduction programs to (EADDP) was officially launched at Hotel Af- improve the livelihood of the rural poor and sustainably ricana in Kampala on 24th July 2008. EADDP care for the earth for the future generations. was launched by the Honorable Minister of State for Animal Industry, Mr. Fred Mukisa, In his welcome statement, the Country Director HPI who expressed great honor to perform the task Uganda, Mr. Patrick Nalere stated that the vision of of officially launching of the project. EADD was to transform the lives of 179,000 house- The aim of the launch was to introduce the holds (about 1 million people) in the region by doubling project to the stakeholders, intended benefici- their household dairy income by 2012 through inte- aries, funding organizations and to the general grated interventions in dairy production, market access public and to provide a forum for informative and knowledge application. exchange especially on how to work together During the launch, the Country Project Manager to make the project achieve the set milestones. (CPM), Mr. William Matovu, gave an overview of the This was to ensure that the overall vision, ob- EADD. He informed participants that the aim of EADD jectives and activities of the project are under- is to move smallholder farmers out of poverty by im- stood and know how different stakeholders proving their participation in the dairy value chain and would contribute to the successful implemen- making profit. He also highlighted that the project tation of the project. would engage in 3 major activities “Some of the challenges we are facing today as The Minister observed farmers include lack of proper milk marketing chan- of ; Generating information for that the annual milk nels, poor milk quality, lack of cooling and process- decision making on the dairy yield of 900, 000 tones, ing facilities and lack of artificial insemination ser- value chain, Expanding dairy mar- is against a requirement vices. We are optimistic that EADDP has come at the kets and increasing market access right time to help us reduce some of these chal- of 4.8 million tones thus lenges” Hajj Mohamed Mubiru for smallholder farmers and Sus- any strategic interven- tainably increasing dairy production in the dairy sector is a positive step to- tivity and efficiency. wards the development of the sector. He clearly outlined the project beneficiaries in Uganda He also noted that the volume of milk col- as being 45,000 poor smallholder dairy families that lected, processed and packaged has increased earn less than $ 2 per adult and have 1-5 cows significantly and there is no doubt that the Dairy sector is developing and is one of the In his presentation at the launch, the Country Director ways of boosting the incomes of the rural of Technoserve Mr. Erastus Kibugu, gave a brief of poor. TNS activities. He also made a comprehensive illustra- He noted that Heifer Project international tion of the Business hub approach to the dairy business Uganda (HPI-U) has embraced practical ap- service delivery, which, he said has four key steps; milk proaches to using livestock as an entry point to production, chilling, processing & packing and trans- poverty reduction amongst the rural poor as portation and retail. articulated in the Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA). It is with this vision that At the launch, Hajj Mohamed Mubiru from Luweero Heifer Project International received a four- HPI project, gave a testimony of how his group of Lu- year $42.8 million grant (of which 10.6 mil- weero Church of Uganda has benefited from Heifer in- lion is for Uganda) from the Bill & Melinda terventions. Gates Foundation (BMGF) to fund a project to Participants were drawn from the line ministries and help poor rural farmers in E.A. double their district departments, partner organizations, service pro- incomes by increasing their production of high viders, potential beneficiaries, and other key stake- quality raw milk to sell to dairies. holders. On behalf of government, the Minister called on all development agencies and partners to Page 2 E A D D - U G A N D A NE W S L E T T E R

About EADD HPI received a 4 year grant from the BMGF to help The project will accomplish these aims through coordi- poor rural farmers in East Africa double their In- nated, farmer-focused interventions that integrate to de- comes by increasing their production of high quality velop small holder profit-participation in the dairy value raw milk to sell to dairies chain. The project will provide extensive training in or- ganization development and dynamics, animal agriculture, EADD seeks to improve on-farm production and business practices, plus other related subjects. Women Market access. will be particularly targeted for inclusion in both the bene- On-farm production will be improved by: increasing fits and leadership. the volume of milk produced, improving milk quality and re- In Uganda, EADD will help 45,000 ducing loss through spoilage, families lift themselves out of poverty and providing access to produc- by developing 10 milk collection hubs tion inputs through business de- with CPs where farmers will bring raw livery services. milk for bulking and chilling before Milk production will be in- pick-up by commercial dairies. Addi- creased through artificial insemi- tionally, 5 traditional hubs TMs will nation (AI) to improve local be established where activities will breeds of dairy cows and seek to achieve multiple goals includ- through improved animal nutri- ing to: provide a range of business tion. services to farmers and traditional The project will also enhance the traders; leverage the farmers’ position dairy farmers’ understanding of fundamental busi- with traditional traders through collective bargaining; and ness practices and ability to access finances. improve the demand for quality milk. Market access will be improved by: developing local hubs of business delivery services and CPs that fa- The project is being implemented in the districts of Sem- cilitate market access, linking producers to formal babule, Masaka, Mpigi, Wakiso, Mityana, Kiboga, Na- markets through processors, and increasing produc- kaseke, Luweero, Nakasongora, Masindi, Mukono, ers’ benefit from traditional markets. Kayunga and Jinja. EADD acquires office space At the beginning of July 2008, EADD staff were able to move into their office premises located on plot 14 Lourdel road in Nakasero, Kampala, just a few blocks away from HPI-Uganda office. This was after a few months of renovation of the premises, for- merly used for residential purposes. The office premises comprises of one big housing unit and two smaller ones. The office houses all the EADDP stall from all the implementing partners in Uganda i.e. HPI-U, TNS, ABS TCM and ICRAF. EADDP –Uganda staff standing in front of the EADDP Office when they hosted Prof. Sahr Lebby , the Vice President Africa Area Program, HPI (standing 8th from Left) ISSUE 1 Page 3

Induction Workshop conducted for EADD staff An orientation workshop was conducted for all EADDP tech- from TNS Kenya. nical staff from 2nd – 4th July 2008 at Hotel Equatoria in The workshop was also attended by HPI-Uganda CD, Mr. Patrick Kampala. The aim of the workshop was to provide orientation for the staff and be able to collectively appreciate the tasks Nalere and the CD of TNS Uganda, Mr. Erastus Kibugu. ahead. The specific Objectives were to: • Create a clear understanding of who (staff, consortium organizations, stakeholders) is involved • Build a team that will be able to effectively execute the task with a professional and social understanding. • Discuss the major contents of the project in particular the vision, mission, objectives, expected outcomes, milestones, values governing the project and the hub model. • Define EADDP ‘partnership’ to ensure the success of the project (challenges, opportunities, threats, strengths, working mechanism, reporting, performance reviews, roles and responsibilities, staff development) • Draft and harmonize quarter 3 and 4 work plans and agree on the farmer mobilization strategy. In addition to the EADDP-Uganda staff, the workshop was also attended by the regional coordinator of EADDP, Mr. Moses Nyabila from Nairobi and Mr. Brian McBrearity EADD –Uganda staff performing a role play during the staff induction workshop ABS TCM conducts AI Training ABS TCM organized a refresher training course in Artifi- kungiri, Apach, Masindi and Sironko. cial Insemination (AI) at Mukono Zonal Agricultural Re- The course was conducted through lectures, audio-visual search Development Institute (ZARDI) from 17th –19th DVDs and VHS, participatory and intense practical sessions June 2008. carried out at Buyana Stock Farm (Makerere university Farm) The purpose of the training was to introduce and update the and at Mukono ZARDI who provided animals for use for AI , animal health service providers to modern animal breeding milk quality and Genetics Management Systems practice. and milk quality assurance technologies. The objectives were to: refresh inseminators on the practical procedures in AI; impart knowledge and skills in mastitis prevention, control and practical use of udder care products; build capacity of service providers in quality milk, quality services and products; build capacity of service providers in business skills and record keeping in animal industry services’ provision The course was facilitated by Dr. Nathaniel Ma- koni (Director ABS TCM), Dr. Benon Kanyima ( Faculty of Veterinary medicine Makerere university) and Mr. Dedas M. Ikamba ( ABS TCM Kenya). The training was officially opened by Dr. Marga- ret Makuru, the Deputy Country Director HPI- Uganda The course was attended by 36 participants drawn from the EADDP target districts. Other 8 participants sponsored by HPI-U were drawn from the districts of Gulu, Pallisa, Iganga, Mbale, Ru- Participants taking part in a practical session of AI during the training Page 4 E A D D - U G A N D A NE W S L E T T E R

EADD Site selection For each of EADD-Uganda target districts specific, activi- marketing statistics, dairy farming households, farmer groups ties have been going on for the selection of potential sites and community based organisations was obtained from differ- for both the TMs and CPs. ent sources and used to identify potential sites for the CP and For the past 3 months, EADDP staff have been involved in TM hubs. the site selection process. Several key informants/ dairy Data Collection value chain participants were interviewed providing useful information about the dairy situation in the different project The data captured included location, existing farmer groups, districts. The information was used to map the distribution milk yields, prices, existing markets, entrepreneurship, market of dairy farming, marketing, business development services dynamics, CP feasibility, AI, dairy feeding system, physical (BDS), existing milk cool- infrastructure (particularly ing plants and to select the roads), utilities (water, elec- areas (sub-counties) with tricity, telephone), breeds of the greatest potential for cattle and the dairy farming successful establishment system. In addition, data was of CP TM and hubs. The captured on volumes of milk selected areas were visited marketed by the farmer and the data collection groups, major milk traders in tool/checklist developed the area, BDS Providers, key by ILRI was administered. dairy value chain participants and their capacities. Among the key informants interviewed were Data Analysis and Prelimi- the District Veterinary nary site selection Officers, local Veterinary/ Basing on the information/ Livestock extension work- data collected from different ers, farmer group leaders, sites, qualitative and quantita- bulk milk traders and tive assessments of the suit- transporters, business de- ability of each site for a CP or velopment service (BDS) TM was done, and sites were providers, milk cooling later ranked in order of prior- plant operators, lead farm- ity. ers and political leaders. Some EADDP-Uganda staff having a discussion with some milk traders in Kiboga Also interviewed were The priority sites for CPs are persons implementing projects that support smallholder Masindi, Kiboga and farmers, NGO workers and staff of dairy processing compa- Katuugo. The priority sites for TMs are Luweero and Bubuusi. nies. Secondary data on cattle numbers, milk production and Farmer Sensitization and Mobilization Uganda has a target of establishing 2 CPs and 1 TM in yr1. associations (DFBA) and CP site specific data/ information is Activities of farmer mobiliza- being collected for CP feasibility tions have started and are con- assessments and business plans. tinuing in the selected EADD EADD is also working with part- sites, with the initial concen- ners to mobilize farmers to form tration on the priority sites of DFBAs and raise equity through Kiboga, Masindi and Luweero. sell of shares Sensitization activities include Outputs during mobilization ac- field visits and meetings be- tivities include: Profiles of tween EADD and district lead- DFBAs and CP sites, Lists and ers, district technical staff, numbers of small holder farmers farmer leaders, farmers and and other project participants, other key stakeholders in the Model farmers/TOTs identified diary value chain. The mes- per hub, BDS providers and their sages focus on EADD, and profiles identified per hub and explanation of the hub mod- market information. els, both CP and TM. In addi- Some EADDP-Uganda staff sensitizing some district leaders in Masindi tion, district farmer business ISSUE 1 Page 5

HPI farmer groups sensitized about EADD EADD organized a one day sensitization meeting for HPI farmer groups at Kolping House, Kampala, on 15th August 2008. The main objective of the meeting was to sensi- tize Heifer Project HPI Farmer Group Hold- ers, Chairpersons, Extension Staff and other stakeholders about EADD. After the meeting, an action plan and way forward was developed. HPI project holders discussing their roles and challenges in EADDP during their sensitization workshop Selected farmers visit Kenya dairy hubs Three farmers ( Hajj Mohammed Mubiru from Luweero, Hajj Bruhan Kigoye “I learnt a new technique of planting pastures in 2 rows and M/s Asha Juto from Masindi) from selected EADDP sites participated in the which I really thought was simple, easy and yields more. Eastern and Southern Africa Dairy Association conference and exhibition in Nai- robi from 2nd –6th August 08. While there, they also got the opportunity to visit I am going to do it on my farm and teach others how to some successful hubs of Muki, Nyala, Githunguri, Maffad and Lari where they do it” says Ms Asha Juto after visiting some dairy farm- acquired new ideas that they will help to pass on to other farmers. ers in Kenya EADD-Uganda hosts some important visitors EADDP Uganda has hosted some very important visitors during this period. Among them: Sahr Lebby (Vice President Africa Area Program, HPI) Simon Winters (Vice president TNS Africa Division) Moses Nyabila ( Regional Director EADDP) Page 6 E A D D - U G A N D A NE W S L E T T E R

Photo Gallery Participants during a farmer sensitization meeting in Luweero A calf produced by AI Sahr Lebby talking to some farmers during his visit to EADD Presentation during the HPI farmer groups sensitization workshop Conducting AI training Some EADD-Uganda staff during the staff induction workshop Some milk in plastic containers at a collection centre in Milk transportation by informal milk traders Milk containers at a milk cooler in Kayunga Nakasongola Moses Nyabila speaking during a sensitization meeting Members of Kiboga West cooperative in a meeting Taking milk measurement at JESA Dairy Farm in Kiboga with EADD staff East Africa Dairy Development Project Plot 14 Lourdel Road, Nakasero P. O. Box 28491 Kampala Uganda Tel: 0414 233 481 Fax: 0414 251 455

EADD Uganda Newsletter Issue 1

by East Africa Dairy Development on Jun 29, 2010

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