Kenya initially imposed restrictions on Ugandan dairy products in 2023 to protect local farmers. Though these measures were later relaxed under regional trade rules, the Kenyan government reintroduced a ban on powdered milk last month. Officials cited unfair competition and the need to protect the domestic supply as justification for the renewed ban.

In response, Uganda has turned to Nigeria to diversify its export markets. The Monitor reports that the shipment to Nigeria, facilitated with the support of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, positions Nigeria as Uganda’s second-largest dairy export destination after Algeria, which currently imports about 20,000 tonnes annually.

Despite having one of Africa’s largest cattle populations —over 20 million head of cattle, Nigeria produces limited quantities of milk and depends on imports for around 60% of its dairy needs. 

The country is now working to increase local milk output, including importing dairy cattle from Denmark , as part of a strategy to reduce dairy imports that cost the country $1.5 billion annually.

“Our goal is ambitious but achievable; to double Nigeria's milk production from 700,000 tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes annually in the next five years," said Livestock Minister Idi Maiha in June.

Before the imposition of trade barriers, Kenya was Uganda's largest milk buyer. However, a 10% import levy on dairy products reduced the competitiveness of Ugandan goods. Uganda contested the tax under the East African Community (EAC) Common Market Protocol, which supports the free movement of goods within the region.

While Egypt leads Africa’s dairy production with an estimated 5.7 billion kilograms of annual production in 2025, East Africa remains the continent’s dairy hub . In 2023, East Africa contributed 48% of Africa’s total milk production, amounting to 25.4 million tonnes. The region also recorded a 26% growth in production between 2013 and 2023. Key producers include Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, and South Sudan, with Uganda becoming a notable exporter of milk powder.

Uganda’s dairy industry continues to grow, with an expected annual production of 5.3 billion litres in 2025. The Dairy Development Authority (DDA), established in 1998, plays a central role in regulating and promoting the industry. It has implemented policies to improve milk quality, boost production, and increase market access.

A map produced by The World in Maps highlights four nations where cattle reign supreme over the human race and underscores the vital role livestock plays in their economies, exports, and cultural heritage.

Argentina stands out with  53.8 million cattle , surpassing its 45.5 million citizens. Known for its vast pampas and world-famous beef, Argentina’s cattle industry is beyond big business. It’s a national symbol.

Brazil, with its huge 252.7 million cattle, far exceeds its population of 211.1 million people. As a global leader in beef exports, Brazil’s livestock sector fuels international food markets and supports millions of jobs across the country.

In Uruguay, the dominance of cattle is even more striking: 11.9 million cows compared to just 3.3 million people. That’s more than three cows per person. Uruguay’s premium beef is in high demand worldwide, making livestock a cornerstone of its economy.

New Zealand rounds up the list with 10 million cattle for a population of 5.2 million. Known for its rolling green pastures and premium dairy products, New Zealand’s cattle sector is integral to both its exports and rural identity.

According to FAOSTAT’s latest figures , the global cattle population exceeds 1 billion head, with Latin America and Asia leading production.

Brazil alone accounts for nearly 25% of South America's cattle, supporting both domestic consumption and export demands, while Uruguay’s beef industry is so robust that it exports over 70% of its beef production, mainly to China and the European Union .

For years, farmers in Rwanda have depended on using artificial insemination as a method of producing cows in large quantities for breeding purposes.

This process has however not been without problems. One of the key problems was that the semen used for insemination had to travel long distances over rough roads, which reduced its quality.

Transporting it in large, heavy containers filled with liquid nitrogen also made the process slow and difficult.

This often caused disagreements between farmers and vets when cows failed to conceive.

To solve this, the drone delivery company Zipline Rwanda began testing how drones could carry semen directly to vets and farmers.

Their trials, which have lasted six months, show that using drones keeps the semen in better condition and increases the success rate of insemination to over 90 percent which is a big improvement from the national average of 40 percent as of 2024.

So far, around 400 cows have been inseminated during the pilot programme in two districts in Eastern Rwanda.

Farmers who used to wait several hours for deliveries are now getting semen in under an hour and one drone can carry enough semen to inseminate 40 cows and fly up to 210 kilometres in a round trip.

Meanwhile, Zipline has indicated plans to expand the service to more parts of the country after the current testing phase ends.

According to Livestock Development Minister Idi Maiha, Nigeria aims to double its milk production from 700,000 tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes annually within the next five years.

The goal is to close the wide gap between how much milk the country consumes and what it produces.

Nigeria currently produces less than half the 1.6 million tonnes of milk it consumes each year, forcing it to rely on imports to meet demand.

This has placed a burden on foreign exchange reserves and slowed the growth of local dairy businesses.

Although Nigeria has more than 20 million cattle, most are low-yield breeds managed by pastoralist communities.

Minister Maiha said a Nigerian farm has already begun importing high-yielding dairy cows from Denmark and is expanding its herd through structured breeding practices.

He added that the government has introduced eight new types of pasture for the first time in nearly five decades.

A new national plan for animal genetics is also being implemented with support from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Officials believe building a stronger local dairy industry will help stabilise food prices and improve nutrition while strengthening the naira, which has shown signs of improvement on the foreign exchange market in recent months.

By focusing on breeding better cattle, improving grazing land, and investing in local farms, authorities say Nigeria can move from a heavy milk importer to a self-reliant producer in the near future.