The Eastern and Southern African Dairy Association (ESADA) is hosting the African Dairy Conference and Exhibition (AFDA) scheduled for September 11–15, 2023, at Hotel Africana, Kampala, which will be attended by more than 400 delegates and over 100 exhibitors from over 40 countries.
Dr. Bright Rwamirama Kanyontore, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, stated in a presser made on August 15, 2023, that the African Dairy Conference and Exhibition is the largest African dairy event organised by ESADA.
According to Rwamirama, the event will provide a platform for key dairy industry stakeholders to showcase their products to consumers and other decision makers. It will create new markets and orient consumers to their new innovative products.
“This conference is very meaningful in the Eastern Africa block, where over 80% of the milk is produced by smallholders and therefore plays a very important role in the lives of its inhabitants,” Rwamirama stated.
“There are millions of businesses and households involved. In general, the dairy sector is one of the critical sectors in the region with high potential for improving food security and the welfare of its people,” he added.
Rwamirama further stated that the dairy stakeholders support the AFDA’s main objectives of knowledge sharing and technology transfer.
“The African Dairy Conference and Exhibition is indeed a very opportune platform to deliver sustainable development in the sector for the benefit of all,” he stated.
According to Rwamirama, the event is set out to achieve various goals, including: highlighting opportunities for dairy sector investment in Africa; improving position and drumming up support for the dairy industry; and providing a platform for the African and global dairy communities to discuss and recommend solutions to policy, among others.
Since the launch of the African Dairy Conference and Exhibition, ESADA has held seven events in different countries. AFDA has so far had a successful 15 years, with the recently concluded 15th AFDA reaffirming the event’s status as the greatest dairy event in Africa.
