Stages in the Development of a Dairy Industry in Bunyoro, Western Uganda

Abstract

The district of Bunyoro consists of three main pastoral-physiographic zones: (i) the Lake Albert flatsdry bush country best suited to extensive beef ranching; (2) an extension of Uganda's interior plateau, a Combrelum savanna capable of supporting one animal to 2 ha; and (3) the Central Hills, a well-watered fertile region suited to intensive pastoralism (potential of 2 head of cattle per hectare). In I889 the district was devastated by Rinderpest and soon afterwards was laid waste by inter-tribal warfare. Following depopulation the land reverted to bush and tsetse fly occupied most of the grazing area. In the period 1950-I960 the tsetse fly was removed from a large area around Masindi, Rinderpest was brought under control and conditions favoured the regeneration of the district herd. The development of the dairy industry in Bunyoro falls into three main stages: (i) the pre-cooperative stage, with Masindi heavily reliant upon imported milk from Kenya; (2) the cooperative stage when centralization was introduced with the installation of a small cooler and a retail outlet was opened in the main township (Masindi). New farms developed along the main roads and a regular collection of milk was organized by a group of producers. Production was limited by the size of the cooler. (3) In the third stage, the dairy is made the agent for a government dairy industry. A larger cooler and regular insulated transport facilities permit the sale of a surplus to Kampala, encouraging further expansion of dairy farms. Plans have been drawn up for regional collection centres with coolers in outlying parts of Bunyoro to exploit previously untapped sources of milk. Investment in pure water supplies, improved livestock and control of tick-borne disease are designed to improve both productivity and the quality of the milk. DURING Colonial times Uganda was almost totally dependent upon Kenya for the supply of fresh milk to townships in all but the remotest parts of the country and, even there, dried milk imported from wholesalers in Nairobi formed the usual substitute. After independence in 1962, Uganda concentrated on the development of livestock as a key element in diversifying its narrow economic base and, in the case of dairying, putting into the pockets of Ugandan farmers money which would have otherwise contributed to the already adverse balance of payments with Kenya. This study looks at the way one district moved from an import-dependent state to a situation where it regularly dispatches a net surplus of milk to the national capital. THE PASTORAL ENVIRONMENT Bunyoro district falls into three main physiographic divisions2 each with a characteristic rangeland type and potential for development (Fig. i). Bordering the eastern shore of Lake Albert at 600-750 m is one of the driest and hottest parts of Uganda, receiving less than 800 mm of rainfall annually; evapotranspiration is also high. The year consists of an average of less than ninety rain days and the dry season is strongly marked. Vegetation consists of a deciduous thicket in association with a dry grass savanna.3 Surface water is limited and in the dry season the bulk of the cattle are dependent on Lake Albert for their supplies. In this area where agricultural potential without irriga-