Reducing Postharvest Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
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 Establishment of a functional analytical laboratory and regular taking of samples of
milk and dairy products on the market and analysis of their quality and composition
was initiated.
All of the above actions and strategies have helped to reduce postharvest losses in the dairy
value chain.
4.6.5. Lessons Learned from the Case Studies
The Ugandan dairy industry benefitted from a range of well-coordinated donor funded
development programmes which facilitated a quick recovery of the industry after 1986
(Balikowa, 2011). Numerous national and international non-governmental organisations
(NGOs), such as Heifer International, Send-A-Cow Uganda, Land O' Lakes, plus international
development agencies such as DANIDA, USAID, French Development Agency, USDA, ADB, GTZ,
EC, DFID, IDA, AU/IBAR, as well as UN Agencies such as FAO, WFP, IFAD, UNDP and the World
Bank have supported the dairy sector during the last three decades (Balikowa, 2011).
International agencies such as FAO and ILRI have included Uganda in projects to reduce milk
postharvest losses (e.g. FAO Action Programme for the Prevention of Food Losses; Milk and
dairy products, postharvest losses and food safety in sub-Saharan Africa and the Near East).
Another example of inter-regional programmes in East Africa is the ASARECA Programme
“Exploiting Markets for Dairy and Meat Products: Quality and Safety; Improving Market
Participation by Small Scale Livestock Producers” with local partners in 3 countries (e.g.
ASARECA / PAAP-ILRI Project on rationalisation and harmonization). The inter-regional
dimension of the sub-programme is attained by staging conferences with decision makers
across a larger geographical spread to foster sharing of best practices, and support policies
among the respective decision maker (Bennett and Peters, 2009).
Recommendations from projects such as the Kenya Smallholder Dairy Project 25 should be
taken into account in that they offer practical solutions to milk losses encountered by small-
scale farmers and traders. For example, t he use of the lactoperoxidase system (LPS) as a
substitute for hydrogen peroxide is seen to offer a means by which milk collectors can
preserve milk quality for a longer period, and reduce spoilage losses incurred.
Dairy production in Uganda contributes to household livelihoods, food security and nutrition.
Strong demand for dairy products and increasingly complex processing and marketing
systems offer significant opportunities for growth and poverty reduction at every stage in the
value chain. However, these new market opportunities and livelihood options are
accompanied by rapidly changing patterns of competition, consumer preferences and market
standards, which pose challenges for smallholders to remain competitive.
Value chains must therefore be carefully managed to ensure that smallholders are in a position
to exploit opportunities in this rapidly changing sector. Institutional support and public and
private investments are needed to assist those smallholders who can compete in these value
chains. The Government of Uganda has identified the dairy sector as one of the ten priority
sectors as part of the development strategy and investment plan. Given that the dairy sector
already has played an important role in agricultural policy during the last three decades, it is a
matter of continuing the efforts which are underway.
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