Adoption of on-farm food safety measures among smallholder dairy farmers in Central Uganda

Uganda’s dairy sector suffers significant economic losses from disease outbreaks and milk contamination, undermining farmer incomes and public health. This study evaluates the adoption of food safety measures (FSMs) among 757 smallholder dairy farmers in Central Uganda, the country’s leading milk-producing region, using semi-structured questionnaires, which were administered through interviews. FSMs were categorized into milk hygiene, storage, environmental hygiene, and animal health, revealing an overall adoption rate of 62.88%. While milk storage practices showed the highest compliance (73.5%), critical gaps persisted in sanitization (8.1% for utensils), mastitis prevention (7.1% dry cow therapy adoption), and full implementation of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles (27.6%). The findings indicate that the majority of the farmers prioritized visible hygiene practices (97.4% cleaned utensils) over scientifically vital controls, creating a hygiene paradox that leaves milk vulnerable to pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli. Although 75% used Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), most relied on unwritten, experience-based protocols rather than formal documentation. The findings underscore urgent policy actions: (1) targeted training to bridge the knowledge-action gap, particularly in sanitization and HACCP; (2) economic incentives, such as premium pricing for safety-compliant milk, to motivate adoption; and (3) gender-responsive interventions, as women dominate smallholder labor but face access barriers. Innovative approaches like farmer living labs and mobile-enabled monitoring could democratize food safety knowledge. By aligning market incentives with regulatory enforcement, Uganda can transform its dairy sector, safeguarding consumer health while boosting farmer incomes and trade competitiveness. This study provides a roadmap for low-resource settings to balance pragmatic food safety improvements with smallholder realities.