EMPOWERING THE IN-SCHOOL YOUTH WITH AGRICULTURAL

KNOWLEDGE AND RELATED LIFE SKILLS FOR SUSTAINABLE

AGRICULTURE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT

‘The Gayaza High School Farm experience’

Dr. D. K. Semambo, A. Galiwango, R. Dungu, Dr. S.C. Butungi

BACKGROUND

The National Animal Genetic Resource Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) fosters livestock information diffusion to the youth from primary level across to tertiary institutions.

The youth visit NAGRC&DB’s Livestock Breeding Centres located country wide.

NAGRC&DB expects visiting schools with school farms to put in practice the learnt technologies.

INTRODUCTION

Recently, NAGRC&DB embarked on a “School Farm education-based approach’’

Goal Empowering the in school youth with

agricultural knowledge and related life skills for sustainable agriculture sector development

INTRODUCTION CONTINUED

Objectives Promote hands-on animal and crop agricultural knowledge and

skills uptake among in school students. Students to take part in bringing about improved performance of

their own school farm enterprises by actively participating in various activities along the different enterprise’s value chain development.

Students to act as ‘’Agriculture Sector Development Ambassadors’’ to communities around their schools and respective home communities.

The school farm approach to be applied/utilized in the school curriculum.

To get parents involved in transformation of the school farm and also improve their own.

‘THE GAYAZA HIGH SCHOOL FARM EXPERIENCE’(The School Farm Education based approach)

Goal: To make Gayaza High school farm a

model farm developed along the use and application of scientific knowledge in agriculture.

‘THE GAYAZA HIGH SCHOOL FARM EXPERIENCE’

The program was initiated by hosting 50 students and 14 teachers at Njeru Stock Farm, Buikwe District.

During this visit, the team was equipped with livestock and crop management knowledge and practices which could easily be replicated.

The trained students for example are trained in skills that include:- mgt of calves; animal nutrition and feeding (including pasture development and forage conservation); reproduction and fertility mgt; animal health mgt; milk production, handling & marketing.

Students learning how to plant maize for silage production

GAYAZA HIGH SCHOOL FARM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT IN PERSPECTIVE

The school farm is placed on 40 acres of land, established infrastructure includes that for the piggery, goats, poultry, dairy and crop enterprises.Njeru Stock Farm visit was followed by NAGRC&DB staff partnering with the trained students and staff in applying the newly acquired knowledge in improving the school’s dairy, poultry, piggery and crop sections.

School girls weeding their maize

GAYAZA HIGH SCHOOL FARM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT IN PERSPECTIVE

Progress (Dairy, Poultry & Banana enterprises)

Dairy Enterprise• Planted 4.5 acres of fodder maize (longe 5), expected silage

tonnage is 90 tones.• Rehabilitated the dairy unit (feeding area & milk disposal room)• Provided 200 tubes of silage• Provided and Ear tagged the dairy herd• Trained data entrants and introduced use of standardized milk

recording formats• A visiting Veterinary Officer• Artificial Insemination application

GAYAZA HIGH SCHOOL FARM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT IN PERSPECTIVE

Progress (Dairy, Poultry & Banana enterprises)Poultry Enterprise• Provided 1,000 DOC to the poultry enterprise• Rehabilitation of the brooder house• Attached a poultry expert to provide

management and consultancy services• Banana Enterprise• Planted …

DOC in the brooder at Gayaza Farm

Students attending a dairy farm management lecture at Njeru Stock Farm

Ear Tagging of Cows at Gayaza High School

Students Planting desmodium and Lab Lab at Njeru Stock Farm

Students learning how to feed Silage

Planted Desmodium at 1 month

Planted Maize at 2 months

Plans to further improve the dairy, piggery, goats and poultry enterprises

Open up another 13 acres for fodder maize, legumes and grasses establishment

Use AI and ET in improving genetics of the dairy, goats and piggery animals

Upgrade the poultry enterprise into a Mother Unit

Hay and silage production Fence reinforcement and establishment