The Inclusive Dairy Enterprise project for Uganda (TIDE) The Inclusive Dairy Enterprise project (TIDE) is an initiative of SNV in collaboration with WUR CDI, the Friesian & DDA (Dairy Development Authority). The duration of this project is from October 2015 until December 2019 and it is submitted to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) in Uganda. The impact of this project is poverty reduction through improved dairy farm incomes, household nutrition and employment opportunities for 20000 farmers. 
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda has supported investment in the cold chain in the South Western milk shed by installing 100 milk coolers. The Inclusive Dairy Enterprise (TIDE) project enables small and medium-sized dairy farmers and their organisations to leverage on these investments by strengthening the milk value chain to improve their incomes and the nutritional status of their families in six districts in South-West Uganda. 
The TIDE project contributes to poverty reduction in South West Uganda by supporting agricultural transformation. Using the drive of the private sector, which has expanded processing capacity, more dairy farms can connect to the dairy value chain. The expanding milk markets both in and outside Uganda can be served by improving the quality and seasonality of dairy production. The focus will be on small and medium dairy farms to ensure that women and youth benefit from this transformation.
The project has four components to achieve its objectives:1. Improved dairy farm productivity2. Improved commercial milk quality3. Improved pro-active dairy regulation4. Improved dairy household nutrition
The challenges to strengthen the dairy value chain in Uganda are basically threefold:
• Strengthen the cooperative• Improve production by increasing productivity per cow• Increase farmers’ income by increasing the milk price at farm gate level
Although these three issues are obviously interlinked, Agriterra believes there is a clear division of tasks possible: SNV, WUR CDI, and the Friesian have extensive (technical) know-how on what’s needed to increase productivity. Added value of Agriterra is to strengthen the structures (cooperative) to embed this knowledge in a sustainable way, and second to increase milk prices at farm level. This can be done by increasing milk volumes and by adding value to the milk (processing).

Within the overall TIDE project framework, Agriterra will particularly focus on:- Leading the project activity, supporting the dairy cooperative societies in southwest Uganda to improve their functioning, and moving them to become bankable where possible;- Strengthening the extension component of the TIDE project, by providing practical dairy farming expertise.Agriterra will implement that role by making available local and expatriate staff, mobilising expert missions from its Agripool and in general linking its extensive network of dairy contacts in The Netherlands to relevant project activities and components.
Initial proposal is to have 7 missions in 2016:3 advisory with 2 experts (including 1 mission for company assessments)3 technical with 2 farmers 
At the end of 2016, a mission for ‘evaluation’ is requested, and can be invoiced 100%.And full time availability of Emile in Mbarara, being part of the TIDE team on Cooperative Development. 
The rest of the budget will be on 50/50 basis.

Within the overall TIDE project framework, Agriterra will particularly focus on:- Leading the project activity, supporting the dairy cooperative societies in southwest Uganda to improve their functioning, and moving them to become bankable where possible;- Strengthening the extension component of the TIDE project, by providing practical dairy farming expertise.Agriterra will implement that role by making available local and expatriate staff, mobilising expert missions from its Agripool and in general linking its extensive network of dairy contacts in The Netherlands to relevant project activities and components.. 2017
Agriterra is involved in cooperative engagement, supports cooperative development for dairy farmers. The approach involves three levels of engagement, i.e.
  
-       a selected group of cooperatives (23 so far, but increasing to 35) has an intensive support and training programme, aiming to diversify the range of services provided to farmers;
  
-       a larger group of cooperatives (73) is not part of the pre-selected group, but acquired a milk cooler under the aBi project: this group will be supported with targeted training and support to strengthen operations (this is funded by aBi);
  
-       the remaining cooperatives (approx. 70) does not have specific support yet, but during this year some of the products will be made available to them on a demand basis.
  
While so far this component has been supply-driven, during this year a shift will be made towards a more market-based approach, involving packaging project offerings in products that can be accessed on demand (also gradually involving cost-sharing). Products include governance, financial management and business development, with methodologies including training and coaching & mentoring.

Goals:
- 12 bankable cooperatives