AgriFoSe2030 project in Western Uganda supports capacity building for women in the milk value chain

The AgriFoSe2030 project on “Building Women’s Capacity on Milk Value Addition” has trained women in Uganda’s Kiruhura district to efficiently refine milk into higher value products including yogurt, butter, ghee, cheese, and cosmetics. The Kiruhura district hosts one of the largest population of cattle herds in Uganda and covers a large part of Uganda’s 200km long cattle corridor. The women developed skills in sourcing milk, storage, packaging and marketing of milk-based lotions, soaps and shampoos. The new skills align with district and national efforts to increase income, provide employment and ameliorate the deteriorating conditions of rural women. The project also contributes to reducing milk wastage and sale below market value caused by the lack of appropriate storage facilities. It instead encourages women to recognise and exploit gains from the dermatological, probiotic, health, income and food security value of milk-based products.

The project is conducted by a team of Ugandan researchers, led by Dr. Judith Irene Nagasha from Kyambogo University, who deployed gender-responsive participatory approaches for engaging stakeholders including Kiruhura-Women’s Association, livestock extension officers, male livestock farmers, local livestock association groups, female livestock farmers, traditional and religious leaders. In reviewing the contributions of the training provided, Dr. Judith Irene Nagasha observed that women are using their skills learnt to improve their livelihoods and many plan to engage in the marketing of milk products through self-organised groups.

The project underscores the need for research-policy linkages, stakeholder engagement and gender-sensitive interventions for empowering women, improving rural incomes and attaining food security.

Further details here: https://researchfindsug.com/how-to-turn-ugandas-milk-into-cosmetics/#comments