KAMPALA, Oct. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded a 2.8 million-US dollar-grant to develop dairy cooperatives in Uganda, local press reported on Tuesday.

    The grant will be used between 2004 and 2009 by the Land O'Lakes International Development Division to develop more than two dozen cooperatives in the east African country.

    The aid scheme is aimed to upgrade financial practices of farmers cooperatives, improve their legislative and regulatory environments and enhance the quality of life of their over 2,000 members.

    "We are grateful for this grant. We shall continue using our experience and knowledge as a farmer owned food and agricultural cooperative to promote the global community," said Tom Verdoorn, vice-president of Land O'Lakes International Division.

    The Land O'Lakes is a US-based farmer-owned food and agricultural cooperative with annual sales of more than 6 billion US dollars.

    The body operates in more than 50 countries and provides agricultural training and technical assistance in more than 30 developing countries. Enditem