President Yoweri Museveni has urged Ugandan cattle farmers to keep hybrid cattle capable of producing large volumes of milk which can generate substantial income to support their families.

The president was speaking at a function to mark six years of Sameer Agriculture Livestock Limited [a diary company operating in the country] in Kampala on Oct. 5.

"I worked hard to bring these people [SALL] here so they can process our milk and sell it in Uganda and abroad," Museveni said, adding the current spike in milk prices is an opportunity for farmers to earn more income and sustain their families. One litre of milk cost Sh150 in 2006 compared to Sh450 today.

Museveni said way back in 2006 the country produced 200million litres of milk a day compared to 1.8bn litres produced today. "This is a great opportunity for farmers to utilise," he said.

SALL said it plans to increase processed milk output to 1 million litres a day over the next five years, an initiative that could see average annual household dairy farmers incomes grow from the current $1, 000 to over $3, 000.

The company is embarking on working with existing farmers to increase milk production as well as encouraging new farmers to take on dairy farming.