MICHAEL N
Dairy farmers in Ntungamo District are raising concerns over the increasing availability of duplicate tick-control medicines on the market, which they say are causing heavy losses and threatening the survival of their cattle.
Ntungamo District, known for its high milk production and plantation farming, relies heavily on dairy farming as a key source of income for many families. Farmers say the rise in counterfeit sprays has led to tick infestations that have resulted in the deaths of many cattle, particularly exotic breeds such as Friesians, which are more vulnerable to tick-borne diseases.
Kenneth Katamirwa, a dairy farmer from Nyakina, Kyamate Ward in Ntungamo Municipality, said many farmers have invested heavily in improved cattle breeds and in planting nutritious grasses, hay, and silage to boost milk production. However, he noted that counterfeit sprays are undermining these efforts by failing to eliminate ticks, resulting in significant losses.
Farmers also highlighted the tendency of some cattle keepers to treat their animals without consulting trained veterinary doctors, which they say worsens the problem. They appealed to the government to strictly regulate the sale of veterinary medicines, stabilize milk prices, and explore international markets to ensure better returns for dairy farmers.
In Kayooza, Rushenyi, cattle keeper Deus Mugume said the sector faces additional challenges such as prolonged dry spells, lack of clean water for animals, poor road networks, and high costs of transporting milk to dairies. He said the cost of production far outweighs the prices offered for milk, which currently range from 800 shillings per liter during rainy seasons to 1,100 shillings in the dry season.
The Chairperson of Ntungamo Dairy Farmers’ Co-operative Union (NDAFCU), Emmanuel Arinatwe, revealed that through collective efforts, farmers have increased daily milk production from 4,000 liters to 30,000 liters. NDAFCU has been encouraging farmers to save, offering loans, and providing farm equipment and vaccines to improve household incomes and education.
However, Arinatwe said farmers still face major setbacks including foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, counterfeit veterinary products, and competition from small unregulated dairies which compromise milk prices and quality. He urged the government to provide milk coolers, regulate veterinary drug supplies, and offer affordable credit facilities to enable farmers to sustain milk production and improve livelihoods.
