By Prossy Nandudu
Government through the Dairy Development Authority is to use the newly installed Milk Automated Teller Machines to increase milk consumption to 120 litres.
Current consumption is 64litres per person per annum, short of the recommended 200 liters per person per year by the World Health Organizations.
Located at the Entebbe Dairy Training Institute ATMs are part of the milk processing and incubation plant at the school, estimated to process about 2000 liters of yoghurt.
While inspecting the processing facilities on Friday, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry Bright Rwamirama said that the ATMs are part of the new processing system that has a cheese, yoghurt and Ice cream processing lines.
Rwamirama said that by introducing technology into the dairy sector, consumers will be assured of safety, accessibility, affordability and stabilization of the prices on the market.
“The ATM machine will go a long way in serving high population places such as schools and busy towns. Through a digital interface, milk of any quantity and amounts can be purchased, making the commodity affordable to the with different financial capacity,” said Rwamirama.
The School was established in 1969 is the premier dairy training institution under Dairy Development Authority (DDA) with an aim of equipping dairy stakeholders with hands on skills in dairy value addition for employment and wealth creation.
Apart from training, the school has an incubation facility for enterprises adding value to milk to develop products such as yoghurt and cheese. Trainings at the school target dairy stakeholders such as dairy farmers, milk collection center operators/assistants, Milk Transporters and those into Value Addition.
Samson Akankiza, who accompanied the minister of the tour hailed government for supporting the dairy sector, and assured consumers that milk served in the ATMs is hygienically processed and is safe for human.
“The machine makes it hard to adulterate the milk and will give higher value for famers and traders who chose to sell the milk at designated premises inspected by DDA,” said Akankiza.
The Principal of the School, Herbert Sabila added that through the dairy value addition programs, many dairy value addition enterprises have been born, creating employment for students while at school and after school.
