Managed by the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre & Data Bank (NAGRC & DB), the factory’s capacity to produce 10 tonnes of livestock feed per hour added to the hatchery’s 10,000 day-old chicks per day, Kasolwe is now in position to supply 1,000 households in the Busoga sub-region, writes Nicholas Bamulanzeki.
In June, 2021, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) released its annual poverty report that indicates Busoga sub-region as the poorest in Uganda. In fact, 14.5 per cent of people in Busoga are classified as totally poor.
Whereas the report blamed the increased poverty levels in Busoga on increased population caused by poor family planning, the underlying factor is that most of the Busoga population engages in primitive farming.
Many farmers deal in growing sugarcane which almost take two years to mature. Those in the livestock sub-sector lack access to the best farming resources.
It is from that background that NAGRC & DB’s decision to set up of a feed mill factory and hatchery at Kasolwe is a stitch in time for the people of Busoga.
On February 27 when Kadaga commissioned the two facilities, hundreds of farmers turned up amid pomp and fanfare.
Kasolwe is one of the government farms managed under NAGRC & DB and serves as a regional centre of farming excellence.
But for years, it had become dilapidated until 2019 when efforts to revive it started with the construction of a hay barn, cattle dip and spay race as well as valley dams. Still, the ordinary farmers in Busoga couldn’t fully utilize the facility due to the absence of animal feeds.
So, now that there is a new feed mill that can churn out 10 tonnes of processed feed a day, livestock farmers have a chance to gain direct access to top-quality processed animal feeds on top of getting day-old chicks without the need to travel long distances.
She added that the new feed mill and hatchery will transform farming practices in the sub-region from just sustaining livelihoods into commercial farming.
“I have advocated for these facilities for years and I’m happy NAGRC found it fit to set them up here,” Kadaga said.
She also praised NAGRC & DB management for providing farmers in the region with the best farming methods, right from providing the top breeds, trainings in farming as well as marketing farmers’ produce.
“I take this opportunity to thank Dr Peter Beine and his team for upgrading Kasolwe into a modern ranch and advise the people of Busoga to utilize it to improve farming,” she said.
Also present was Agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze, his deputies Bright Rwamirama and Fred Bwino Kyakulaga as well as Dr Peter Beine, the NAGRC & DB executive director.
CONTEXT
According to Tumwebaze, the new facilities will improve livestock production and productivity in Busoga sub-region through safe and affordable livestock feeds for sustainable agro-industrialization.
He added that the feed mill will provide animal feeds to farmers in the region at subsidized prices.
“The mill will produce feeds for both the internal demand of NAGRC & DB, our breeding institution, and selling to farmers at subsidized prices,” he said.
“With continued budget support from government, it’s our plan as the ministry to systematically revamp and equip all our regional and zonal research and breeding institutes. Quality seed and breeding stock are the major prerequisites/enablers for enhanced production and productivity.”
He also implored the Busoga community to take advantage of the farm and create a win-win situation by providing raw materials like sugarcane for the feed mill.
The new feed mill has the capacity to produce five tonnes of livestock feed per hour, three tonnes of mash feed and two tonnes of pelleted feed.
Already, NAGRC & DB procured 100 jersey dairy cattle for the farm to kick-start the process of producing milk there. The facility also has a floating fish extruder unit under construction to produce quality fish feeds, one of the biggest challenges to the aquaculture subsector.
Meanwhile, the hatchery has a capacity of producing 60,000 day-old chicks per week. Currently, the poultry complex houses four parent stock rearing units with a capacity to maintain a minimum of 4,800 parent stock.
There is an immediate plan to double this holding capacity so as to utilize the hatchery’s full capacity. The complex has benefitted the Busoga community by reaching over 800 households supplied with over 70,000 day-old chicks of Kuroiler and Rainbow rooster.
FARMERS SPEAK OUT
According to Dr Beine, some sugarcane by-products are essential in the making of animal feed.
“It is important to note that we will be buying sugarcane offcuts from farmers in the region as a solution to scarcity of animal feed,” he said.
“Meanwhile, the farm is going to produce a ready and consistent market for producers of maize, sorghum, soya beans and corn.”
Ahmed Kibedi, a sugarcane farmer, is hopeful the feed mill will solve the long-running problem of low market prices.
“I’ve been a sugarcane farmer for more than two decades but there is little to show for because we sell it at very low prices,” he said. “However, now that we have been assured of an available facility to sell to, we hope to reap big.”
Meanwhile, Abdul Kasadha, a cereals farmer, also expressed optimism to transform his life.
“What I have learnt from the demonstration at the feed mill is that the machine has unlimited potential. The challenge for us will be to produce enough grain to match its potential. This is going to inspire many farmers to grow more crops due to the assurance that they cannot go to waste as has been the case.”
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