Factors Influencing Adherence to Food Safety Measures Among Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Central Uganda

Promoting compliance with food safety measures among smallholder dairy farmers is critical for public health, market access, and the overall profitability and sustainability of the dairy sector. However, smallholder dairy farmers face challenges related to the implementation of food safety measures (FSMs) on their farms. To devise interventions to overcome these challenges, it is necessary to identify and understand the drivers of compliance with food safety measures among smallholder dairy farmers in Central Uganda. Therefore, this study investigated the factors influencing food safety compliance among smallholder dairy farmers in Central Uganda. Data were collected from 757 randomly selected smallholder dairy farmers using face-to-face interviews. The farmers were classified as low, middle, and high adopters of FSMs. The study employed an ordered Probit model to identify the determinants of compliance with FSMs. The results indicate that significant variables positively influencing the probability of being in the higher adopter class include level of formal education, type of livestock breed, number of cows milked, familiarity with FSMs, compliance perception, awareness of HACCP, standard operating procedures (SOPs), milk contamination, and the government’s role in FSMs. Conversely, factors negatively influencing the probability of being in the higher adopter class were farming experience, land size, herd size, and the cost of compliance with food safety. These issues call for policy interventions to enhance FSM knowledge through capacity-building programs for safer milk production. This will improve farmers’ perceptions and awareness of FSMs at the farm level. Considering the cost implications of FSM compliance, financial incentives are needed, such as higher premium prices for a quality-based milk payment system. Finally, the government should take a leading role in supporting smallholder farmers to adhere to FSMs through legislation and policies tailored to the farmers’ needs.