Stakeholders in Uganda’s livestock and poultry sector have raised concern over the growing crisis in the country’s animal feed industry, warning that counterfeit inputs, poor-quality feeds, and aflatoxin contamination are causing major losses to farmers and threatening public health.

The concerns were raised during the Feed Cottage Industry Symposium held at Gudie Leisure Farm in Wakiso District, where experts called for urgent reforms and stronger regulation of Uganda’s feed value chain.

Farmers, researchers, feed processors, and agricultural experts gathered at Gudie Leisure Farm for discussions focused on improving the quality, safety, and regulation of animal feeds in Uganda.

Participants at the symposium warned that Uganda’s livestock industry continues to suffer from unregulated feed production, counterfeit agricultural inputs, and limited enforcement of standards.

Prof. Gudula Naiga Basaza, the Managing Director of Gudie Leisure Farm, noted that although more than seventy percent of Ugandan households keep animals, many farmers continue to operate on a small scale and struggle with poor returns due to low-quality feeds.

Prof. Basaza emphasized the need to organize and streamline the feed milling industry in order to accurately determine the country’s feed demand, production capacity, and livestock population.

Experts also raised concern over aflatoxin contamination in feeds, describing it as a major health and economic threat affecting both animals and consumers.

Aaron Mulindwa, director of research at Mukono Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute, explained that contaminated feeds can expose consumers to serious illnesses, including cancer, through animal products.

He revealed that the National Agricultural Research Organization has developed a technology known as Aflasafe to help farmers prevent aflatoxin contamination in maize at the planting stage.

Counterfeit farm inputs were also highlighted as a growing challenge undermining feed quality and farmer safety.

Stakeholders further pointed to limited market access and weak regulation as some of the major barriers affecting grain and feed producers across the country.

Stakeholders now hope the symposium discussions will push government agencies to strengthen enforcement, improve farmer awareness, and promote safer, standardized, and more profitable livestock farming practices across Uganda.