THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA NAADS Newsletter · 2019-10-29 · Email: [email protected] Toll Free line :...

NAADS Newsletter

THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY SERVICES (NAADS)

Issue No 2 August 2019

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES

NAADSAGRO-INDUSTRIALISATION

DRIVE TO BENEFIT MILLIONS OF FARMERS

Cocoa turns farmers into instant millionaires

Distribution of 280 tractors kicks off

Rwenzori agricultural industrial parks get sh10bn boost

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NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY SERVICES (NAADS) Newsletter Issue No 2 August 2019

2DOWNLOADTHE DAYLIFF APP

Newsletter Issue No 2 August 2019

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CONTENTS

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FOREWARD

EDITORKhadija NakakandeEDITORIAL TEAMRonald KalyangoPaul TimbitiDan WanderaDeo Habyarimana, PUBLISHEREmpire Publishing Company (U) Ltd DESIGN & LAYOUTMpeirwe Joel.

ADDRESS

For any Further Information Please Contact:Plot 5 Kyadondo Rd, Block B, Legacy Towers, NakaseroP.O. Box 25235, Kampala, UgandaTel: +256-41/312-345440/345065/ 345066Fax: +256-41-347843Email: [email protected] Toll Free line : 0800230100

The Director of Agriculture; Horyal Investments Ltd-Mohamud Ahmed leads the NAADS Management and other officials during a tour of the Atiak Sugar Factory.

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NAADS develops guidelines for

operationalisation of the 280 tractors

Busoga NAADS supportedfish farmers now fishing

millions

NAADS invests sh19bn in Nwoya fruit factory

Wamala Targets 40 Acres of Pineapples

Mulwana’s banana plantation has inspired

many into farming

NAADS aids Kyegegwa livestock Farmer with

quality pasture

Cocoa turning farmers into instant

millionaires

Heifer turns Mbarara youth into a serious

farmer

Pictorial of the 2019 Jinja Agriculture show

DOWNLOADTHE DAYLIFF APP

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Minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries.

Dear Reader

The Government of Uganda is desirous of

accelerating production of priority commodity

value chains as a means of transforming the 68%

households to commercial agriculture. These include

coffee, tea, cocoa, fruits (citrus, mangoes, apples,

pinneaples), and value chains in order to achieve the

vision 2020 of the middle income status.

Furthermore, the Standing Orders of Procedure (SOP)

for NAADS/OWC, clearly spells out the roles of different

stakeholders in the procurement, farmer selection and

preparation, delivery, distribution and monitoring of

inputs provided through District Local Governments.

One of the core components of NAADS/OWC mandate

is to ensure transformation of the 68% of the households

to the money economy.

We hope that our leaders will become aware of the

different players in the agricultural sector and appreciate

the efforts put in place and be able to take advantage

of the existing opportunities and services across

the country in order to improve themselves and the

livelihoods of the people of Uganda they serve.

It is therefore my pleasure to share with you the lessons

learnt out of these relationships with the private sector

and I hope users of this information will benefit from it

and take more steps to interact more with the different

players in the agricultural sector that exist in their

localities.

I also take this opportunity to thank all private partners

that have contributed to this issue and most importantly

for the contributing to the development of this Country.

The Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries

will continue to sustain a good working environment

to enable this partnership continue to contribute to the

achievement of national development goals embedded

in the Development Plan and the sector mission which is

"To Transform subsistance Farming into Commercial

Agriculture."

For God and My Country

Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempiija (MP)

Minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and

Fisheries

FOREWARD


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Message from the CChair Person Board

of Directors NAADS

Fellow Ugandans,


Agriculture remains the main source of livelihood and employment for over 60% of

Uganda’s population. It contributes over 70% of Uganda’s export earnings and provides the bulk of the raw materials for most of the industries that are predominantly agro-based.

During this year’s Budget speech, H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda emphasized modernization of farming and skilling for Uganda as the gateway to the realisation of socio-economic transformation.

The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) is a key stakeholder in promoting modernisation of agriculture through its mandate of managing the agricultural input distribution chains, supporting strategic interventions for priority/strategic commodities including supporting the multiplication of planting and stocking materials and supporting agribusiness and value chain development focusing on the upper end of the chain.

A lot has been realized in the modernization of agriculture through various interventions by NAADS

which is evidenced in the general increase in production for most of the priority commodity enterprises; Coffee, tea, maize, rice, fruits, bananas, dairy, beef, beans, cassava, fish and cocoa.

The second edition of the NAADS Newsletter comes at a right time when the government through various interventions is desirous of accelerating production as a means to move the 68% small scale holder farmers into a monetary economy.

For the markets to work efficiently, it is vital that there are sound linkages between producers, input distributors, middlemen, marketers and consumers.

In this edition we reflect on impact of NAADS interventions in various areas and planned areas of intervention for the Financial Year 2019/2020, for example, NAADS has committed UGX 55 billion to set up grain, fruit and feeds processing plants in the districts of Yumbe, Kapeeka, Nwoya and Kayunga.

Establishment of these facilities will be undertaken in partnership also includes Uganda Prisons, Uganda

Development Corporation and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

As agro industrialization takes root, there is need to prioritise revitalizing the role of farmers in wealth creation initiatives remains the responsibility of all players in the agricultural sector.

The intention is to significantly improve the performance of the key commodity value chains to foster competitiveness and commercialisation of the 68% smallholder farmers engulfed in subsistence agriculture.

Despite the budget cuts, we are committed to achieve our mandate and my appeal to all the stakeholders is to play their different roles efficiently and effectively.

Enjoy the reading!!

Robert Galusanja KibirangoChairperson Board of Directors NAADS

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Message from the Executive Director

NAADS

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Dear Reader

I bring you greetings from the NAADS Secretariat and welcome you to the second

edition of the NAADS Newsletter.

This Newsletter is a bi-annual publication by the NAADS Secretariat with the aim of keeping our stakeholders informed and updated on our programmes. In this issue, we highlight a number of activities that we have undertaken in a bid to execute and achieve our mandate.

Our key mandate is to support and improve livelihoods of small holder farmers through wealth creation. This is achieved through distribution of agricultural inputs, supporting strategic interventions for priority commodities under the commodity approach, supporting the multiplication of planting and stocking materials, agribusiness development and value chain development focusing on the upper end of the value chain. These interventions

are aimed at increasing production and productivity of the various priority and strategic commodities for improved household food and income security; as well as increasing export earnings.

Key among our achievements last financial year was the procurement of 280 tractors to be given out to farmers in various districts across the Country. The tractors were launched at a colourful event that was presided over by H.E The President of Uganda; Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, in April 2019. The provision of tractors is part of the government efforts aimed at commercializing agriculture through mechanization. In addition, a number of value addition projects were initiated last Financial Year, namely, the Yumbe fruits processing plant, the Nwoya multi-fruit processing plant, Kayunga fruit processing plant, and the Kapeeka mullti-fruit processing plant.

This Financial Year, work continues to complete the fruits processing plants listed above. In addition, we are implementing a Presidential initiative for agro industrialization which is being piloted in Kasese and Kabarole Districts. The initiative known as the agri-led programmme aims at establishing industrial parks in strategic locations as hubs for industrialization.

NAADS is making a remarkable contribution to wealth creation and it is our pleasure to share with you some of our success stories.

Good reading!!!!

Dr. Samuel. K. Mugasi

NAADS Executive Director


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Nwoya fruit factory to

benefit over 3,000 farmers

Dr. Julian, also a member of Nwoya Fruit Growers Cooperative Society; noted that Delight Uganda Ltd grows mangoes on 1,000 acres, oranges on 150 acres while guavas occupy 50 acres in Lungulu sub- county in Nwoya district.

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The C.E.O of Delight Uganda Ltd; Dr. Julian Adyeri Omalla (second right) and the NAADS E.D; Dr. Samuel Mugasi during the factory site inspection in Nwoya District.

THE Government through the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS)

has earmarked about sh19bn this Financial Year 2019/2020 to construct a fruit processing factory in Nwoya District.

The fruit factory is to be constructed in partnership with Delight Uganda Ltd, the proprietor of cheers juice, brand and Nwoya District Local Government.

To support, establishment of the factory, an out grower community of over 3,000 farmers under their association Nwoya Fruit Growers Cooperative Society has been built around Delight Uganda Ltd’s nucleus farm.

While addressing the beneficiaries, the NAADS Executive Director; Dr. Samuel Mugasi revealed that the proposed 12-tonne processing factory will comprise of 8 metric tonnes for mangoes, while oranges and guavas will each have an installed capacity of two metric tonnes per hour.

“We are optimistic that construction of the fruit factory is set to commence before end of this financial year and it will be in fulfilment of the Presidential pledge to the people of Nwoya,” said Dr. Mugasi.

He urged the beneficiary farmers to follow the recommended agronomic practices at their respective fruit farms and to make use of the extension workers at their disposal especially at the sub-county level to ensure supply of quality fruits.

The Chief Executive Officer of Delight Uganda Ltd; Dr. Julian

Adyeri thanked government for the gesture it has extended to the fruit farmers in Nwoya and also for the trust in the private sector actors.

She noted that farmers were ready to make full use of the factory upon its completion.

Dr. Julian, also a member of Nwoya Fruit Growers Cooperative Society; noted that Delight Uganda Ltd currently grows mangoes on 1,000 acres, oranges on 150 acres while guavas occupy 50 acres in Lungulu sub-county in Nwoya District.

On the other hand, the out growers have established 2,500 acres of different fruit types.

“We harvest between 2 to 3 bags of mangoes, oranges and guava from each tree in a season,” said Dr. Julian.

She commended the NAADS secretariat for supporting farmers with planting materials (seedlings), a key cornerstone in the establishment of the fruit factory.

The chairperson of Delight Uganda Ltd’s Board of Directors; Dr. Gudula Naiga Basaza believes that with the establishment of the fruit factory in the area, offers ready market for the farmer’s produce.

The Representative of Nwoya Fruit Growers Cooperative Society; Vincent Langole thanked NAADS towards fulfilment of the President’s pledge.

He, however, observed that there is need to address the rampant pests and diseases that continue to wreak havoc to farmer’s produce.

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The 63-year-old Tumwebaze

hails NAADSF

OR most of her adult life, 63-year-old, Leticia Tumwebaze Bakehahoki, a resident of

Buyanja town council in Rukungiri district has relied on coffee, beans and banana growing as her sole source of income.

However, her complacence suffered a shock in 2003 when banana growing, which augmented the beans and coffee finances, was hit by the devastating banana bacterial wilt, which occasioned a rude awakening.

Faced with such a hard reality, Bakehahoki, who is now a successful oranges, mango and apple farmer, started contemplating abandoning banana farming.

“I had given up on bananas and I was thinking of cutting down the entire plantation to concentrate on the cultivation of beans and coffee,” she recalls.

But just at the time she was nursing the move, little did she know it

would never come to be – a wind of resilience manifested in the coming of the NAADS programme.

As a result, Bakehahoki was among the farmers who were trained on how to control the banana bacterial wilt.

She was also equipped with the good agronomic practices, for example, stumping out old coffee trees, spraying against pests and diseases, and managing soil fertility, especially through using inorganic fertilizers.

Applying the knowledge she obtained from the training, today, Bakehahoki has a nice looking banana garden. In 2015, she added apple, oranges and mango cultivation to her ever growing list of agricultural enterprises at her farm.

Having tasted the unlimited increased benefits of apple cultivation, she has so far bought more land, expanding her mangoes and apples on five acres.

From her 1,150 apple trees, Bakehahoki in 2018 harvested 1,000 fruits and selling a fruit at sh600, she earned about sh600,000 from the trade. She has set her eyes on doubling the harvests this year and also venture into seedling multiplication.

“Growing Apple is a business that needs patience but it’s a very fruitful project. I would encourage every farmer to take it up. I used to admire apple gardens but had no idea of getting seeds, in 2015 when H.E The President visited our area, he encouraged us and from that time I have developed the love for the crop,” Bakehahoki noted during the interview.

She is immensely grateful to the NAADS secretariat through which she received free apple seedlings which in the long run have turned her into a model farmer.

Leticia Tumwebaze Bakehahoki, tending to her Mango and Apples orchards.

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THE Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries working closely with the

National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) has developed operational guidelines to be followed by individual farmers and cooperatives to access and manage the recently launched 280 tractors.

According to Eng. Michael Shuwu, the Value Addition officer at the NAADS secretariat, the guidelines are intended to provide a framework for equitable access and effective

management of tractors and their implements for profitable and sustainable utilization.

“The guidelines highlight the purpose, guiding principles, the beneficiary selection criteria, tractor access and management models, the roles and responsibilities of the key stakeholders involved in the utilization, management, supervision and motoring of the tractors and their implements,” explained Shuwu during the interview.

He observes that four models for access and management of tractors are being considered and these according to Shuwu, range from farmer organization tractor management, the government owned and operated tractor management models.

Other models for consideration include leased or contracted tractor management and the nucleus farmer or private tractor hire service provider management.

NAADS develops guidelines for operationalising the

280 tractors

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The ministry of Agriculture will coordinate implementation of the guidelines in collaboration with NAADS Secretariat and its agencies. Implementation of the guidelines will be done using central government and district local government service delivery structures.

According to Eng. Shuwu, roles of various stakeholders shall vary according to their mandates and functions while technical committees at the National and district local government level shall be constituted.

General conditions for tractor allocation

Eng. Shuwu explains that the selection criteria should facilitate decision making based on fairness and proper justification.

Beneficiary districts, according to Shuwu, should be those with high agricultural production of a given sector priority enterprises and with high potential and demand for tractor services.

“Tractors and implements will be given to the existing farmer associations/groups/ individuals in a particular production locality involved in sector priority commodity value chain,” notes Eng. Shuwu.

He further urges that priority will be given to farmer associations/groups/individuals in a given community that are involved in a particular sector priority commodity value chain/enterprise at production level.

However, Eng. Shuwu notes that farmers involved in commodities other than the sector priority enterprises may demand for the tractor services.

Acreage and potential for other farm applications

Farmer associations/individuals who will commit more acreage to production, more cost efficiency and maximization of tractor utilization will be considered first.

Specifically; farmers should be willing to progressively increase the

land acreages under cultivation in subsequent seasons and potential for irrigation and post-harvest handling.

Equity in allocation and distribution

The allocation of tractors and implements shall be to ensure regional balance in envisaged benefits, in principle of equity among the different commodity enterprises and geographical distribution.

Other than for special interventions cited by government, all potential beneficiaries will be selected on a competitive scale based on organizational capacity to manage the tractors and implements on business principles using an appropriate selection tool.

Criteria for selecting Farmer Organization (FO)

· Farmers organized in groups shall be eligible for support with tractors and matching implements. Existing and active FOs are preferred.

· Consideration shall be given to only farmer groups (associations or cooperatives) whose registration is atleast up to district level.

· Total combined acreage available for production by the benefiting farmer organization should not be less than 50 acres in the locality where they operate, and this will be correlated with the tractor capacity.

· Farmer organizations committing larger acreages are preferred.

· Farmer organizations shall be required to present proof/ evidence that the group have been in operations and guided by the laws that govern the operations of such associations/groups (e.g. cooperative society bye-laws).

· The Farmer Organization/group should have a minimum of 20 members.

· FO should have a truck record of proper leadership structure and management of group assets and finances.

· The group should avail a competitive bankable business/tractor hire service plan. This should be supported by evidence of conducting profitable ventures within a particular commodity value chain.

· The groups should commit to use only qualified, certified and licensed tractor operators/ technicians who will be trained prior to delivery/receipt of the tractor.

· Ministry of Agriculture working with other relevant MDAs will ensure that these operators are certified.


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Criteria for selecting individual beneficiaries (Nucleus Farmer and Private Tractor Hire Service Provider)

The nucleus farmer must:

· Be a model farmer within a particular locality;

· Have at least 50 acres of land available for agricultural production.

· Commit to offer tractor hire services to surrounding community.

· Provide proof of past experience in managing similar assets.

The private tractor hire service provider must;

· Be a legally registered tractor hire service business by the government of Uganda.

· Provide proof of experience in Tractor hire Service Business and required implements.

· Must be a Ugandan National.

· Commit to offer tractor hire services to surrounding community.

The district selection committee shall be constituted comprising of district production and marketing, agriculture, veterinary, commercial, community development, DAE, Operation Wealth Creation, Farmer Organisation representative, production secretary in the district chaired by the chief administrative officer with DPMO as secretary in order to:

Identify the FOs/Individual Beneficiaries (Nucleus Farmer and Private Tractor Hire Service Provider), assess them based on the developed criteria and recommend/ forward them to the MAAIF through the respective CAOs for further consideration.

The request from the district will be supported by a district selection committee minutes seconding/recommending the group.

The political leadership in the district may also be involved in selection and prioritizing of beneficiaries of the tractors.

Prioritization of the FOs/Individual Beneficiaries (Nucleus Farmer and Private Tractor Hire Service Provider) for Tractor support

The MAAIF shall review and approve requests received from district local government. A technical committee on tractor access and management shall be constituted to further assess the FOs/ Individual Beneficiaries (Nucleus Farmer and Private Tractor Hire Service Provider) for institutional capacity and potential to manage and run the tractors on business principles.

This committee will comprise of representatives from; the Ministry of Agriculture and its agencies, Uganda National Farmers Federation, tractor suppliers, Ministry of Trade Industries and Cooperatives and any other relevant entity.

The Ministry of Agriculture will coordinate implementation of the guidelines in collaboration with its agencies like NAADS Secretariat and the Implementation of the guidelines will be done using Central Government and District Local Government service delivery structures

H.E The President Yoweri Museveni commissioning the 280 tractors that were procured by government through

the NAADS programme.

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His commercial farming interest was last season buttressed by the NAADS programme with two-and-a-half

kilogrammes of maize seeds.

Upon harvest, he collected about 2,011kgs, selling a kilo at sh1,000. He re-invested the proceeds, expanding his banana plantation and investing in other food security crops like cultivation of cassava and beans.

Odama, also owns three-and-a-half acres of bananas, planted with different varieties. His plan is to raise it to 5 acres. “It is customary land and I share it with my siblings. I got about 1,000 suckers from friends. I planted them following the recommended practices and today, we have ready buyers from as far as Adjumani and Luweero district,” he says.

His plan is to open up more land for banana cultivation because of its unwavering advantages like staying longer in the soils and little care after the plantation is done.

“On a weekly basis, I harvest between 20 and 30 bunches, selling them off between sh5,000 and sh20,000 depending on the size,” he reveals.

From the maize harvest he made from NAADS given seeds, he used some of the funds to complete a three roomed house. His plan is to take on more commercial crops like cabbages and supply nearby schools.

However, such promising plans may not easily come to fruition considering that lack of access to constant water supply necessary for irrigation is his biggest challenge. It is his wish that one day, NAADS supplies him with a water pump to boost irrigation and subsequently meaningful and sustainable crop productivity.

Politician ventures

into commercial agricultureApart from finances from his political activities, John Bosco Odama, a resident of Andruvu, Chiaba Parish, and the LC3 Chairperson of Logiri sub-county in Arua District, also has considerable interest in commercial

agriculture from which he equally makes substantial monies.

Odama with a harvested bunch of bananas


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On a weekly basis, I harvest between 20 and 30 bunches, selling them off between sh5,000 and sh20,000 depending on the size.


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Odama inspecting his banana plantation

Odama's son carrying a bunch of banana

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NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY SERVICES (NAADS)NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY SERVICES (NAADS)

Teaching biology and chemistry, with the clock irreversibly ticking to his retirement age,

Edemacu is only left with three years. This will certainly accord him adequate time to boost his Kodjo Mixed Farm with his regular presence.

“As I plan to finish up with my teaching career, my wife- Scolastica Delu helps me monitor the activities at the farm. The farm deals in bananas, fruits, apiary and animal husbandry,” he reports.

It is worth noting every towering story of success in human life has firm roots in humble beginnings. This is equally true of Edemacu’s farming journey which started on a very low scale in 2006, gradually picked momentum in 2013.

How he startedMoments after he had cleared his land, a friend advised him to plant cassava and Irish potatoes arguing that traders especially from South Sudan, had a high demand for the food stuffs.

“I harvested 45 bags of Irish potatoes and 50 bags of cassava, but I could not find market for the produce. I stopped because it was a bad notion for me,” he recollects.

He subsequently planted the whole field with sorghum, and upon harvesting, he was stuck with over 60 bags of grounded flour, but without any market.

“After I had disposed it off, the market for sorghum resurfaced,” he

regrets, observing: “It was a good harvest, but like the previous crops, I couldn’t find market for my produce. I became a little bit disorganized.”

Not succumbing to frustration and resolute in his determination, Edemacu later planted watermelon and harvested over 1,000 balls, selling each at sh2,000, but with a scarce market.

Venturing into bananas and fruitsDue to such market challenges, Edemacu abandoned seasonal crops, crossing to bananas and fruit trees, including mangoes and oranges. Today, he is a satisfied owner of four acres of mature mangoes (13 different varieties), five

Secondary School Teacher becomes model farmer in

Arua

The life of Richard Edemacu, a teacher at Ediofe Secondary School, has been riddled with ups and downs, but if that is the case, he has, fortunately, never

given up.

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Edemacu posing with some of his mangoes.


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acres of bananas and several vegetables intercropped within his orchard.

He also owns a nursery bed for mangoes and oranges, where grafting takes place, two fish ponds, about 50 trees of guava and two heifers.

His farm is located near a water stream and this has provided him with easy access to water for agricultural production, and it was because of this that he managed to get a solar water pump from the NAADS programme.

Now that he has access to water for agricultural production, NAADS supported him with 1,000 mango seedlings.

“I am grateful to the NAADS officers for the extension services they have extended to us regarding growing of all the crops at our farm,” he appreciates.

Furthermore, NAADS has supported him with catfish fingerings. His plan is to become a supplier of seedlings of various crops within the district. Edemacu has so far raised 20,000 seedlings of mangoes, 300,000 seedlings of elite coffee and 700 citrus seedlings.

Last season, he harvested about 3,000 fruits of different mango seedlings. Selling each fruit at sh1,000 each, he earned over sh3m. Additionally, he reveals that bananas are equally giving him some income.

“On a weekly basis, I harvest between 70 and100 bunches, selling each at 10,000 to barracks, hotels, and the Police. These sales bring in between sh700,000 and sh1m weekly.

I am grateful to the NAADS officers for the extension

services they have provided to us regarding growing of all the

crops at our farm.

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An employee at Kodjo Mixed Farm irrigating crops.

An employee at Kodjo Mixed Farm with banana bunches harvested.

Some of the banana bunches harvested.

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And like the Bible says, “Nja kutandikiranga ku b’ewaffe,” (I will always start

with my own people), the harvested fish is not sold in Kampala markets, but bought by the respective communities across the sub-region.

With the thriving ponds, the communities’ welfare has been improved in terms of diet and improved health, besides minimizing the challenge of lack of sauce.

And given the depleted fish stock in Lake Kyoga and Lake Victoria, people have limited access to fish, why they buy it expensively from gazetted markets, moreover on schedule.

But with the fish ponds, despite being sparsely positioned across

the region, families now have meals accompanied with fish sauce, thanks to the NAADS for empowering the farmers.

The community is happy that fish is at exposal, unlike in the past when

they ate mugongowaazi”, (bonny fish), popularly known as “scrap.”

During the interview it was established that the breakthrough during the verification and evaluation tour which the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) Spokesperson, Maj. Tabaro Kiconco, conducted in Busoga sub- region recently.

The random sampling featured success stories in Luuka, Iganga and Mayuge districts, where farmers testified how they have fared since

NAADS empowered them.

Despite still having some challenges, the farmers termed the enterprise as lucrative, having bagged millions in a space of only nine months.

The farms which Maj. Tabaro Kiconco toured included Musa Banerya’s BMK farm-Bukanga, located at Budoma village, Bukanga sub-county, and Rev. David Kisawuzi’s fish ponds in Bukendi village, Bukanga sub-county.

Zubairi Ikanga’s Ikam fish farm in Buseete village, Bulongo sub-county was also among them.

Musa Banerya Kaoome, popularly known as BMK, the proprietor of BMK-Farm-Bukanga, ventured into fish farming in 2015 when he dug the

Busoga NAADS supportedfish farmers now fishing millions

Fish farmers in Busoga sub-region who the NAADS supported with fingerlings and technical advice have a moment to smile, as they’re now harvesting millions.


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Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) Spokesperson, Maj. Tabaro Kiconco interacting with Zubairi Ikanga a fish farmer in Luuka District


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pond and later stocked them with fish fingerings in February 2016.

“I am proud that having started, I don’t regret because from a single pond in the previous harvest, I harvested what earned me about sh6.5m, in a space of nine months,” he explained during the interview.

Banerya started with two ponds using both family and hired labor in December 2015, which was ready before the 2016 rains set in. Initially, he spent sh1.5m as the initial investment.

After establishment, officers of NAADS offered him 1,000 tilapia fingerlings, which he keenly looked after and matured in nine months.

From a single pond, the December 2017 harvests consisted of 599 tilapia which weighed 1,750kgs was sold at the farm gate price of sh3,000, earning sh5,250, 000.

The second harvest, with 249 fish all weighing between 415 kilos and sold at sh3,000, a kilo fetched sh1,495,000, totaling to sh6,495,000. In 2017, from both ponds, we harvested 586 kilos, earning BMK Farm sh9,345,000.

“We then used part of the money to buy a flat TV screen to watch educative stories on different TV stations and paid fees for our children and solved some domestic challenges,” he said.

To keep the enterprise thriving, together with his wife, they opened up a Bank account to avert money squanders.

“Once tackled with determined mind and aggressive hands, fish farming is not only lucrative but enjoyable, that is why I appeal to those in slumber to join us and access the untapped wealth,” Banerya advised.

He said the only challenges the enterprise faces are predators which include serpents, monitor lizards and man. However, the latter can be controlled by keeping tight vigils especially at night.

Having restocked the two ponds in 2018 with male (cat fish) ngege (tilapia) from NAADS, BMK is

poised for big money and for the community, better diet and health.

Since 2006, when Luuka was part of the great Iganga district, Rev. David Kisawuzi in Bukendi village, Bukanga sub-county has been a practicing fish farmer before getting NAADS support in 2016.

NAADS supplied him with 2,000 fingerlings, adding to the old male and tilapia population of 4,000, contributing to continuous harvests after every three months.

“Noticing the high proceeds, I enlarged the ponds to 30 by 60 feet, with a sliding depth of 3-6 feet. In each pond, I also set up brooders where the fingerlings develop in size, before depositing them in the pond to start a new life with the adults,” says Kisawuzi.

Now with 6,800 fingerlings in the two brooders, his projection is to harvest mature fish of about sh35m by June this year.

From the mixture of catfish and tilapia whose population he estimates to be 8,600 in his ponds, Kisawuzi hopes to earn about sh25m from the fish sales.

“Fish farming has over the years has boosted my income, that is why I have been able to educate my children through secondary to

University level, and still counting,” he observed.

Adding that: “I was sucked into the venture by the NAADS in 2015, but even before that, I had heard and seen people engaging in the business, but simply unaware it was lucrative.”

Starting with 2,000 fish, whose harvest was exciting, that is why he had to enlarge the ponds to double the productivity. With the current big pond holding 4,000 tilapia and the smaller one 6,800 catfish, Ikam Farmers-Buseete is now a learning centre for upcoming and experienced farmers, including technocrats.

Owing to the varying fish sizes, they harvest thrice in a year using a special nets with each harvest not going below sh7m. They then sort the harvests, retaining the mature and returning the immature to the ponds. From the recent harvests, they earned sh2,980,000.

By December 2019, our projection for tilapia and catfish is sh20m and sh25m respectively.


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Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) Spokesperson, Maj. Tabaro Kiconco

interacting with fish farmers in Luuka District

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JULIET Maneno lives in Yumbe district with her two children, her husband-a subsistence

farmer. Mameno is 40 years old but is not sure of her exact age.

Her traditional thatched home is a short walk from the site of the processing plant, but 2km from the market. In April 2014, she sold her mangoes to FONUS to be pulped in the mobile processor, for which she received sh100,000.

Mameno, however is optimistic that when the plant opens, she will receive at least double that and will not have to carry them far.

Maneno is looking forward to the opening of the processing plant, not only because she will be able

to take them the fruits of her 20 mango trees twice a year (estimated at 400kgs per tree per year) but because they will be offering jobs to the local community.

She has school fees to pay for two children, not to mention the uniforms and books she cannot afford to buy.

Mameno’s excitement is vested in the recent visit of the NAADS management team led by the Executive Director; Dr. Samuel Mugasi to Lodonga sub-county, a location for the mango processing factory in Yumbe district.

The purpose of the visit was to ascertain the current status of the structures and to officially unveil China Huangpai Food Machinery

Company (U) Ltd as the contractors who have been contracted to construct and install the required machinery for the mango processing factory.

The assignment which has been planned to cost about sh8.4bn, is being executed by the NAADS Secretariat in partnership with Aringa Fruit Farmers’ Cooperative Society and Food and Nutrition Solutions Ltd (FONUS).

Speaking during the site handover to the contractor, Dr. Mugasi acknowledged the initial support of Trademark East Africa and expressed government’s commitment to complete the factory by March 2020 in fulfilment of The President’s pledge.

Construction of Yumbe Mango processing factory resumes

The NAADS Management officials together with members of Aringa Fruit farmers’ Cooperative Society touring structures of Yumbe Mango processing factory.


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“We are hopeful that the work will be completed by March 2020, including the installation of the equipment and in the same year, procurement and processing of the mangoes will start,” he said.

The General Manager of China Huangpai Food Machinery Company; Nelson Ojwiya called for a conducive working environment and cooperation from the beneficiary farmers.

The Yumbe District LC5; Taban Yasin said West Nile is one of the major mango producing regions in the country but farmers are concerned that their produce has been rotting especially during the bumper harvest.

To benefit from the factory, he said farmers have been mobilised to form Aringa Fruit Farmers’ Cooperative Society Ltd to increase on mango production in the area.

“We call upon all farmers with mangoes to register with the cooperatives for easy coordination,” he said.

In 2013, FONUS experts were in Yumbe District when they noticed the proliferation of mango trees growing wild.

The trees were laden with growing fruit and the academics discovered that once ripe, many of the mangoes would go to waste because they could not be transported to markets.

In addition, the fruit was fibrous, probably better suited for juice than eaten raw.

The Yumbe District LC5; Taban Yasin and the NAADS E.D Dr. Samuel Mugasi together with officials of Aringa Fruit Farmers’ Cooperative Society during the ground breaking ceremony.

The Yumbe Mango processing factory."We are optimistic that the construction works will be completed by

March 2020, including the installation of the equipment and in the same year, procurement and processing of the mangoes will start"

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Mulwana’s banana plantation has inspired many into farmingH

e always dreamt of owning a model banana plantation but his dreams seemed to fade

away each passing year until three years ago.

42-year-old Sam Mulwana, a resident of Kasaala parish in Butuntumula sub-county, in Luweero district, however had his dream materialize upon receiving 500 tissue cultured banana suckers.

Mulwana who commends new banana varieties on the ability to survive under all conditions is targeting six acres of bananas in the next two years. He also has two acres under cassava production.

A model farmer and district councilor in Luweero district, Mulwana’s agricultural undertakings have inspired many especially the youth into farming.

“My first planting season was in May 2017 when I got the banana suckers and took advantage of the rains to plant the banana suckers. By July 2018, I was able to start harvesting the bananas,” Mulwana says in an interview.

To encourage adoption of the new banana varieties in the area, Mulwana has given out free suckers and banana clusters to her neighbours and friends in distant places.

“I am on a campaign to popularize adoption of the tissue culture

bananas thanks to the NAADS programme. I am confident that I will achieve that goal,” says Mulwana.

Selling each banana sucker at sh1,000 to those who are interested in buying the suckers, is a clear testimony that Mulwana wants all farmers interested in banana cultivation from Luweero to adopt the new varieties.

Harvesting means money, thus Mulwana sells a bunch depending on the size between sh10,000 and sh20,000. On the other hand, he sells a considerably small bunch at sh8,000, a big cluster at sh2,000 while six banana fingers are sold at sh1,000.

Mulwana’s biggest market source are several institutions including the Kasaala Catholic Parish, Kasaala health Centre, a vocational school St Andrew’s Kasaala Secondary school and two primary schools.

During the festive week of December 2018, he earned over sh1m from the banana sales alone. “My family cannot lack what to eat and sale the surplus,” he says.

His biggest challenge so far is the prolonged dry spells which continues to ravage his banana plantation’s output.

“We need to be supported with solar powered water systems to enable us irrigate our crops during the prolonged dry spells,” he suggested.

With a boost of 500 tissue cultured banana suckers under the NAADS project, Mulwana now owns a 3 acre banana plantation with over 1,300 banana stems at Kasaala village where his family makes a daily harvest for food and sales the surplus.

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Sam Mulwana pruning and tending to his banana plants.

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UNTIL recently, 45-year-old David Wamala has been engaged in the cultivation of

low income value crops like cassava, sweet potatoes, cabbages and eggplants with no tangible incomes.

In 2015, after attending several training workshops organized by the NAADS programme, he decided to embrace pineapple cultivation and today, he proudly testifies that pineapples have finally become the family’s main source of income.

The sudden shift from growing low income crops to pineapples was hugely influenced by the first

batch of 1,000 pinneaple suckers that he received from the NAADS programme in 2016.

Because of pineapple cultivation, he has since established a permanent home among other developments in this rural setting.

“I was spotted by the Luweero district officials as a promising farmer who needed support to venture into large scale commercial farming. I had planted some pineapples and expressed my desire to cultivate more. The extension staff recommended me to be a

beneficiary of the NAADS farm inputs and as thus I was supported with 1,000 pineapple suckers,” he says.

From three acres, Wamala has been able to expand his pineapple garden to cover 20 acres the biggest chunk being hired out from the neighbours.

Unlike other crops grown in the area, pineapples according to Wamala have proved to be more tolerant to the often long dry spells.

As a food security measure, Wamala intercrops bananas with pinneaples. The bananas according to him

Wamala Targets 40 Acres of Pineapples

22


David Wamala showing his pineapple crop in his plantation.


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are also a source of shade for his expansive pineapple plantation.

During a bumper harvest of December, January and February, Wamala earns about sh30m from the pineapple sales. Part of the proceeds, he pays the casual laborers at the farm. His children are also in private schools.

To aid transportation of the harvested produce to both nearby and distant markets, Wamala has purchased two tipper trucks hence being able to have his produce available to his clients at the right time of demand.

His target is to expand his garden to cover 40 acres in the next three years.

“I am highly indebted to the district officials who recommended the NAADS officials to support me with the pineapple suckers, our next course of action will be to add value

to our produce,” he explained during the tour of the garden.

Adding that: “We need a fruit processing plant in Luweero District for value addition. We should not be moving the long distances in search of markets if we had the fruit processing plant to add value to the pineapple crop.”

Dr. Robert Khidda; the Luweero district production manager and the Luweero district agricultural officer; Sarah Namubiru are optimistic that the future of the farming industry in Luweero will largely depend on the improved farming systems and the integration of modern technology including the irrigation to boost production.

“Several farmers have taken advantage of agricultural technologies supplied under the NAADS programme and are doing well. Pineapples are among the

most promising farm enterprise that farmers in Luweero have embraced although value addition is still a major hindering factor,” remarked Namubiru.

During a bumper harvest

of December, January and February,

Wamala normally earns about sh30m from the pineapple sales. Part of the proceeds, he pays the casual laborers at the farm. His children

are also in private schools.


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Looking at the story line of John Ogita, a resident of Obiya Laro village in Laliya

sub-county in Gulu district, it is comforting to say that he did not only have an interest in agriculture at a tender age, but also aggressively grabbed the opportunity when he was just 20 years.

It is then only understandable that Ogita was among the first farmers to venture into rearing of Kuroiler birds.

Before actively taking on piggery, Ogita first had a hand in poultry. “I used to supply big hotels, but for lack of enough space, I crossed to piggery since it takes less space,” he argues.

He, however, still has his eyes fixed on poultry when he secures more land. “I was staying in Gulu town before I shifted to this place. My plan is to acquire more land to accommodate the housing units for poultry and pigsties,” he plans.

Ogita used the finances he derived from selling 400 broilers and about 150 Kuroiler birds to construct the pigsties he is currently using. It is on the basis of these good structures that NAADS gave him a pig that has so far produced nine piglets.

“They are about three months old and if I am to sell, my asking price is about sh200,000 each,” he delightedly brags, quickly

adding, however: “But, my overall goal is to raise the stock to about 60 piglets because the demand for pork in our region is overwhelming.”

It is with optimism that Ogita is carrying this business fully convinced that it will supplement his other sources of income so as to enable his five school going children attain better education.

To guarantee continuity of his project and dreams, Ogita works with his 12-year-old son, Nobert Akena. During the holidays, Akena feeds the pigs and ensures that sty is clean for avoidance of diseases.

“My son is so passionate about

Exotic Pigs Changing Life of Gulu FarmerHaving an interest is one thing, but aggressively picking that interest and nurturing it to fruition is another thing which most people never achieve.

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John Ogita Ogenga feeding one of the pigs at his farm.


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the project and he has really helped me to grow it. He ensures that they are well fed and at the right time,” Ogita proudly speaks of Akena.

Although he is nursing plans of expanding his business, accessing land, the ever rising prices of feeds and lack of adequate veterinary services, are pulling him back.

Despite that, Ogita intends to place a foot into growing food security crops like bananas and vegetables for domestic consumption. “It is my desire that an investor sets up hatchery in the district for those interested in poultry keeping to get high quality chicks,” he wishes.

My son is so passionate about the

project and he has really helped me to grow it. He ensures

that they are well fed and at the right time


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John Ogita's son Nobert Akena feeding the pigs at his farm.

John Ogita and son having a light moment at the farm.

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ALTHOUGH she is physically handicapped, ability beyond disability is what most people enviably see in Deborah Nalubega, a livestock and banana farmer located in Lukomera village in Katikamu sub-county Luweero district.

Notably, Nalubega, who was not among the first beneficiaries of the NAADS programme, demonstrated willingness to venture into livestock production when she decided to attend the training programs organized in the district.

Before getting the in-calf heifer, the 34-year-old Luweero district female councilor representing people with disabilities, mobilized his family members, including his siblings and parents to establish the housing unit for the heifer.

“I didn’t actually participate in the construction of the housing unit because of my nature but I provided the needed supervision,” she says.

How she started?

In 2015, Nalubega was seconded by the Luweero district council to be among the beneficiaries of the in-calf heifers that were being given out under the NAADS programme.

Nalubega, believes that she could be among the many less unfortunate people with a past history of a troubled life journey basing on her disability status that possibly could have partly contributed to life which always called for an affirmative action to better her own family livelihood.

The fact that she has always craved to be a champion of her own life ensured that every opportunity that presented itself in form of a money generating project was taken seriously.

By April 2016, Nalubega had started milking her cow. The extra cash

Nalubega defies disability for livestock and banana production

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Deborah Nalubega feeding some of the livestock she has.


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generated from the milk sales has been a major boost to her other family income projects. Using the proceeds from the milk sales and other savings, she has since added another heifer to her flock.

Having a dairy income project through milk sales including manure she gets from the animal droppings has helped her to establish a banana plantation, a venture that has supplemented her earnings.

“The in-calf heifer extended to me through the NAADS programme by the district officials made me resolve to abandon the begging syndrome for hard work,” she noted during the interview.

According to Nalubega, the manure from the animal droppings (waste) has boosted the banana plantation and today, she is not worried about food security at her home.

In Lukomera village and surroundings, her dairy cattle project is now a source of inspiration to residents.

“Many now believe that they can even work better than me because they are physically normal and have the ability to do the work which a disabled person may not be able to do,” Nalubega who believes that the heifer project opened her gates to prosperity says in an interview.

However, Nalubega’s only challenge has been lack of specific drug shop outlets where they can buy the proper drugs to vaccinate their animals.

“Sometimes we are duped and buy drugs which are substandard we end up losing money and compromising the lives of the livestock animals,” she lamented.

“We call upon government to ensure that the animal drug sale points are properly inspected and monitored by the government veterinary staff. The Veterinary staff at the sub-county should be facilitated with transport means to reach out to the community,” she suggested.

As a mitigation strategy, Nalubega observed that they have resorted to hiring private veterinary officers and yet government spends a lot of resources paying salaries for the sub-county veterinary staffs whose respective output has been limited by lack of transport means.

She also advises that the heifer project should be extended to benefit more farmers in the area because it has proved to be a good family income project.

Her neighbors including one of the school directors at Lukomera village, Charles Opio cherish the example set by Nalubega in her family projects.

“She is a person with disability but takes care of her exotic cattle and ensures that her animals are healthy. She has inspired us to take on the same projects,” Opio said in an interview.

The fact that she

has always craved to be a champion of her own

life ensured that every

opportunity that

presented itself in form

of a money generating

project was taken seriously.

“

“


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Nalubega poising with her Cows.

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NAADS aids Kyegegwa Livestock Farmer with quality pasture

Quality fodder solution to low milk production

With the ever uncertain climatic conditions, with dry spells being the

most dominant, thereby affecting availability of pastures and milk production, it is prudent that livestock farmers embrace massive pasture growing during wet seasons in preparation for dry seasons when scarcity abounds.

Propelled by this necessity, Robert Mugisa, a livestock farmer in Kyegegwa district, has planted seven acres of a wide range of grass varieties. “I will use the grass to manufacture silage and hay as fodder supplement for my animals during the dry spells,” he plans.

He attributes his knowledge of planting quality grass for forage and hay to the NAADS programme,

which supplied him with Napier grass, Kakamega 1, Bracheria and Chloris guyana that he mixes with maize and sorghum stems to make animal fodder.

“My cows never lack grass. I have hay store and a seven acre pasture garden, where I regularly harvest, he boasts, adding: “I irrigate the pasture during the dry season to maintain fodder supply. This has increased milk production from 3 to 5 litres to the current 8 to 10 litres per cow.”

Hay as an animal fodder is increasingly becoming necessarily in a situation where ordinary grass cannot satisfy livestock for better milk production.

For this reason, other dairy farmers in the district are thankful of Mugisa

for their stable milk production – he supplies them with quality pasture seedlings.

“Most livestock farmers are doing it on small scale and together produce 500,000 litres of milk which they sell to diary factories in Mbarara and Kampala,” Mugisa explains.

The farmers’ production and sale of quality milk has equally been enabled by the milk cooling plant at Mpara in Kyegegwa district – it has regular milk supply from farmers located in Kakabara, Ruyonza, Rwentuha, Mpara, Hapuyo, Kigambo, Kasule and Kyegegwa sub-counties.

“

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One of the pastures fields with the quality fodder.


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Women-led dairy enterprises lighting the way for rural transformation in Bugweri district

Due to cultural bias and patriarchy in almost all Ugandan rural societies, most women for so many years have not been economically empowered

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Enid Akuguzibwe is a smallholder dairy farmer in the yet-to-be commissioned new district of Bugweri, which at national level, is a remote place.

By 2012-13, Enid could not imagine she would earn over sh6, 000 per day from milk sales. However, luck came her way, when she got five heifers from the government 2 in 2013 and 3 in 2014 from NAADS. “Although one calf died in 2014, four of them have grown up, are healthy and doing well. I get 6-7 liters of milk from them daily.

“I sell up to 6 liters at Shs 1,000 per liter. I earn atleast Shs 6,000 a day from milk alone,” says a smiling Akuguzibwe. She thanks NAADS for productive animals that are creating a real change in her life.

Enid recalls that prior to NAADS intervention, she had cows, but wasn’t earning such money before, which she’s now able to invest back into her cattle farm.

On feeding, Akuguzibwe grows Napier (elephant) grass that she feeds her animals, but hires at Shs 10,000 per hour a chopper machine with which she prepares elephant grass-feeds. “It’s an efficient diesel-powered chopper that produces 900 kilos of feed per hour, so my animals have enough to eat,” she explains, adding:

“I supplement grass-feeds with dairy-meal and molasses. We saw in Eldoret, dairy farmers grow soya-beans to include plant-protein in their feeds, that I’ll emulate too.”

Otherwise, Akuguzibwe currently spends only Shs70,000 to buy 100kg of dairy-meal, unlike in the past when she used to spend Shs 100,000 to buy 70kgs! It is because she produces the largest amounts of feed herself, compared to the past when she used to buy all of it from agro-input dealers.

A confirmation of BUCOFA’s efficiency in mobilizing, educating and empowering grassroots-farmers is exhibited in Enid—gauged from the outgoing revelations/testimony.

She was informed that her animal shelter/kraal needs improvement like regular draining of urine and thorough clearing out of all cow-dung, to ensure full health of her animals.

Akuguzibwe spends some of her earnings to run a coffee, mango and citrus nursery.

I sell up to 6 liters at Shs

1,000 per liter. I earn atleast

Shs 6,000 a day from milk alone,”

says a smiling Akuguzibwe.

“

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Enid with her heifers she recieved from NAADS.

Although Uganda is one of the countries in the world with climatic conditions suitable

for cocoa growing, few farmers are into growing this lucrative crop, also known as ‘the food for the Kings’.

Used to make high value products like chocolate, beverages, sweats, cakes, among other luxurious products, cocoa is currently one of the strategic crops the government through NAADS is promoting especially in Mityana, Hoima, Mayuge, Kibaale, Mukono, Kagadi, Kasese, Bundibugyo and other places with tropical humid conditions.

With such promotion, the results are evident in Kagadi, Mityana and

Hoima districts, where farmers have taken advantage of the good climatic conditions in the area and free cocoa seedlings distribution by the NAADS to bolster their incomes.

Zadok Byoma of Kyakabadima sub-county in Kagadi district has planted six acres of cocoa plants and is so far earning sh10m from an acre of mature cocoa he had planted earlier before the NAADS gave him a big push of 2,000 seedlings in 2016.

Byuma, another farmer, is carrying out intercropping of cocoa and vanilla, two high value crops, while with NAADS support Fred Musinguzi in Kagadi has planted four acres with NAADS support and will begin harvesting in a years’ time.

Joram Nnali, a cocoa farmer in Vunamba Village in Sekanyonyi Sub-county in Mityana District who was supported with 1800 Cocoa seedlings in 2016 has started to realise the fruits of his hard labour.

With a kilo of cocoa at sh6,000 and that of vanilla at sh250,000, Byuma who relies on his banana plantation as a shade for his cocoa plants that otherwise prefer a forest environment that protects them against the sun, is destined for greater heights.

Milton Semugabi, the Kyakabadima agricultural officer has high hopes in the fortunes to be derived out of cocoa boom. “Five sub-counties in Kagadi are actively involved in cocoa

Cocoa turning farmers into instant millionaires

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Joram Nnali a Cocoa farmer in Mityana District tending to his Cocoa trees

production, with overall production estimated to be 38 tons,” he explains.

The production would even be higher, he argues if a solution to cocoa wilt disease, which is significantly affecting cocoa production by causing overall drying of the crop, is found.

In Hoima district, NAADS extended its helping hand through cocoa seedlings given to Godfrey Beinomugisha, a resident of Kigorobya sub-county, who now has two acres of cocoa trees, and is already harvesting from one acre.

Despite the high financial gains, Sunday Bob George, an agricultural officer in charge of Kigorobya sub-county and guides farmers on best practices, says cocoa is being attacked by a squadron of diseases and insects that are causing havoc to the cocoa trees, resulting in losses.

Twenty seven districts in Uganda with humid tropical conditions are now engaged into cocoa growing, producing 18,000 metric tons of seed.

With a kilo of cocoa at sh6,000 and that of vanilla at sh250,000, Byuma who relies on his banana

plantation as a shade for his cocoa plants that otherwise prefer a

forest environment that protects them against the sun, is destined

for greater heights.

Cocoa earns the country over sh2.1 trillion per annum and is likely to double following the distribution of over one million cocoa seedlings in the last few years.

There are close to 7,000 small holder farmers with 30,756 hectares of cocoa in Bundibugyo, Hoima, Kibale, Kagadi, Mukono, Kasese, Ntoroko, Mpigi and Kayunga, among others districts.

NAADS has to date distrubuted 18,175,543 Cocoa seedling to the beneficiary Districts.


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Cocoa pods ready for harvest

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The Director of Agriculture; Horyal Investments Ltd-Mohamud Ahmed leads the NAADS Management and other officials during a tour of the Atiak Sugar Factory.

45,000 acres of sugar cane plantations to be established in Lamwo District

A total of sh39bn has been earmarked this financial year 2019/2020 for the

establishment of 45,000 acres of sugarcane plantations in Palabek Kal sub-county in Lamwo district, Northern Uganda, the NAADS Executive Director; Dr. Samuel Mugasi has revealed.

Speaking during a recent field visit of the sites where sugarcanes are going to be planted, Dr. Mugasi who was accompanied by the NAADS management team observed that NAADS has been supporting sugarcane production in Atiak sub-county, Amuru District since 2017.

“We have invested over sh20bn in establishing 13,841 acres of sugar cane in Atiak and following our successful intervention, it’s the reason why government has

decided to invest more resources into establishment of new sugarcane plantations in Lamwo,” said Dr. Mugasi.

For successful implementation of the investment strategy, the Executive Director noted that NAADS Secretariat has partnered with the cooperative societies of sugar cane farmers, the District Local Governments of Northern Uganda and Horyal Investments Ltd.

He noted that a Memorandum of Understanding between the partners will be signed before the end of August to enable different implementing parties prepare for project implementation in April 2020.

“NAADS is a key stakeholder in the establishment of Atiak sugar factory

with a responsibility of providing agricultural inputs and services for opening up land and planting of sugar cane as support to the out grower’s scheme,” he explained during the tour of the towering facilities.

Adding that: “We want to empower and uplift the most vulnerable groups including women in the sub-region who are members of the cooperative society to have a source of livelihood through sugar cane growing.”

The Government’s intervention is aimed at empowering and uplifting the most vulnerable groups including women in Northern Uganda sub-region who are members of the out-growers cooperative societies to have a source of livelihood through sugarcane growing.

Atiak Sugar factory has a capacity to crush 1,650 tonnes (1,650,000kgs) of raw cane daily, producing 66,000 tonnes (66,000,000kgs) of powder sugar annually


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The Director of Agriculture; Horyal Investments Ltd-Mohamud Ahmed checks on the sugarcane in the plantation

as Dr. Christopher Bukenya the NAADS Technical service Manager looks on.

At the national level, the executive director observed that the intervention is aimed at boosting sugarcane production for increased sugar production for both domestic and export markets.

The Director of Agriculture; Horyal Investments Ltd-Mohamud Ahmed assured NAADS officials that planting of sugar cane in Atiak will be completed by end of the current season- November 2019.

Atiak Sugar factory has a capacity to crush 1,650 tonnes (1,650,000kgs) of raw cane daily, producing 66,000 tonnes (66,000,000kgs) of powder sugar annually.

Some of the Atiak sugarcane outgrowers demonstrate how sugarcane is planted to the The Director of Agriculture; Horyal Investments Ltd-Mohamud Ahmed and the NAADS Management officials.

Pictorial of the2019 Jinja agriculture show

The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) secretariat officials participated in the 27th National Agricultural and trade show in Jinja district. The annual event that ran from 12th to 21st July 2019 was held under the theme: “Agricultural Technologies And Innovations For Farmer-Led Agro-Industrialization,”

The show that sets a platform for displaying and identifying innovations made by local and foreign companies through improved technologies for better production, marketing and poverty eradication was opened by the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister; Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda. Also in attendance was the Agriculture Minister; Hon. Vincent Ssempijja, state minister for Works; Gen. Katumba Wamala among other dignitaries. This year the focus was on how to engage technologies in agricultural production to embrace value addition and industrialization. Indeed the NAADS supported farmers like Florence Kayayo from Bunyagabu district among others who exhibited grape wine that she extracts from the grapes was consistent with the theme. Other exhibitors showcased solar dried pinneaples, honey, propolis, hay, cassava cuttings, flour, oranges and mangoes. Below are some of the highlights in the pictures.

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TO his peers and village mates, he is among the most serious youth farmer in this rural

setting. One gets to fully understand why residents refer to John Kavigi, a resident of Kashanyarazi village in Kamukuzi division-Mbarara Municipality Mbarara district among the serious farmers only when they visit his farm.

There is no doubt that Kavigi who has taken livestock farming to another level has embraced the use of knowledge from the internet to ensure his heifer supports his family throughout the year.

But there is more to the self-taught livestock farmer. From a distance, one is welcomed by the greenery that gives that freshness away from the city, thanks to the mango trees, a few banana plants and small fields of egg plants and tomatoes on the family’s small plot of land.

Kavigi, who holds a diploma, bachelors and master’s degrees in public health from Bishop Stuart University in Mbarara was among the 16 youth leaders that were supported with heifers by the NAADS programme in 2018.

“I don’t regret venturing in farming as a graduate, when I get money I plan to expand my project to have at least five cows under zero grazing. I’m sure with such I will be generating enough income much better than that of an employed graduate,” says the 28-year-old.

Kavigi, who previously worked as a marketer for a chain of food supplements in Mbarara district,

believes that hard work and resilience have been his winning formulas.

“I started from scratch, he says. The only thing that I had was my knowledge and a small piece of land,” he recalls.

When he was given, the heifer from the NAADS programme, he searched for information from the internet about livestock production and that is why he has managed to take good care of the heifer.

Kavigi says a big number of young people don’t take farming seriously yet it is actually a goldmine. “My colleagues have either neglected their heifers or sold them off,” he remarked.

According to Kavigi, university graduates have a tendency of associating farming with illiterates and semi-illiterates, he says. “That’s wrong and it’s depriving many young people a chance to live a decent life,”

But he also faults financial institutions for not supporting agriculture or startups in the sector. “It’s hard to get a loan to invest in farming activities.” Yet, he said, one does not need huge capital to venture into agriculture.

“It’s wrong to think of capital first,” he noted. “What matters most is the idea. That’s what leads to a good proposal.” Any amount of money can start business, he insists.

But he warned young people with intentions to start business to first get acquainted with the kind of

business they want to do and the challenges and opportunities that exist in the sector they want to venture into.

“You have got to scan and understand the sector,” he says. “Some research is necessary before doing anything.”

“Youth fear taking the risk” he said. “However, to know that risk is part of the game. A farmer may take a loan and then their produce gets affected by bad weather. That’s normal. If young people are to do business and succeed they have got to be brave and patient,” says Lt. Col. Sam Karogo, the Operation Wealth Creation coordinator in charge of Kamukuzi.

Kavigi who happens to be a youth counsellor in Kamukuzi Division and youth publicity secretary of the NRM League hails government for the support which he says has turned him into a better farmer.

“I didn’t know anything about farming, but in May last year a chance came and I was part of the youth leaders in Mbarara who were supported with heifers, the heifer which I was given has groomed me to become a serious farmer which I wasn’t before,” he testified.

Kavigi gets about 10 litres of milk per day and earns sh10,000 through milk sales alone. He also sells a tipper of cow dung at a cost of sh100,000 every after three months.

He, however, said as youth they still have a challenge of limited access to land for their different agricultural undertakings.

Heifer turns Mbarara youth into a serious farmer

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THE Government through the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) has allotted

sh10bn towards the development of two agricultural industrial parks in Kabarole and Kasese districts.

The agricultural parks are expected to introduce new research technologies to enhance value addition to boost exports from the entire Rwenzori sub-region.

The development is under the Presidential initiative on Agro Industrialization for Local Economic Development (AGRILED) in the Rwenzori sub-region and the initial activities are coordinated by the NAADS Secretariat.

Speaking during the inception meeting for the various key actors at the NAADS Secretariat boardroom, the NAADS executive director; Dr. Samuel Mugasi noted that the two district local governments will share sh8bn while the remaining sh2bn will be for validation exercises and facilitating OWC activities in the sub-region.

The meeting that was attended by stakeholders from the government ministries, departments and agencies and district Local Governments recently deliberated

on the roadmap for coordination and implementation of the work plan for the execution of the industrial parks.

The executive director observed that resources shall be used to facilitate a number of activities including opening and grading of roads, street lighting, electricity and water extension, fencing, drawing of detailed physical and site plans, survey and titling, and capacity building for selected private sector players among others.

The Kasese Municipality Town Clerk; Innocent Ahimbisibwe told the meeting that Kasese has already allocated 216.96 acres for the establishment of the industrial and business park.

According to Ahimbisibwe, the district has developed a master plan for the industrial park and their plan is to prioritise agro-processing, ICT, mineral beneficiation and tourism.

On her part, the Kabarole district Chief Administrative Officer; Ms. Phiona Sanyu said the district has demarcated 200 acres and in addition developed an investment policy ahead of the development of the industrial park.

The deputy Coordinator of OWC;

Lt. Gen. Charles Angina told the meeting that OWC is committed to coordinate and play its role of monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the industrial parks are established as planned.

Mr. Henry Kisitu; a representative from Uganda Investment Authority noted that his Organisation is already working with the two district Local governments such that the developed industrial parks confirm to the international standards that would attract serious investors.

The meeting set up two committees to develop an implementation schedule and come up with timelines for each phase of development

The committee on physical infrastructure has membership from Uganda National Roads Authority, NAADS/OWC, National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Rural Electrification Agency, Kasese and Kabarole District Local Governments, Ministry of Local Government and Uganda Investment Authority (UIA).

The second committee for investment is comprised of Uganda Development Corporation, UIA, Uganda Industrial Research Institute, Ministry of Local Government and the two District Local Governments.

Rwenzori agricultural industrial parks get sh10bn boost

38


Steps of Acquiring Agricultural Inputs


A farmer presents his/her request for input needs to his/her farmer group or takes it to the Production

1 2The district assesses the requests submitted by the farmers and compiles the

stocking materials required across the district.

The District submits their

Secretariat.

3 4

5 6Communication is sent to the farmers on the availability of the inputs (type and quantity) and the date of distribution to enable them prepare adequately.

7 8The supplier delivers the inputs to the Parish/ Sub County and distribution is done accordingly. The farmer signs the distribution sheet.

The Input Distribution Committee at the district makes an inspection of the delivered inputs to ensure the right quantity and quality as per given

NAADS Secretariat procures the agricultural inputs from

providers who deliver the inputs to the district.

The sheet is endorsed by Operation Wealth Creation

and (OWC),extension stu�Parish/ Sub County Chief.

Mandate: To manage Input Distribution Chains; Support Strategic Manage Input Distribution Chains; Support Strategic Interventions,

Promote Agribusiness and Value Chain Development

NAADS Secretariat makes an assessment of district submissions and sends an advice slip to each with details of how much inputs are to be provided based on the available resources.

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training. Financing at 12%pa is available with ENGSOL’S banking partners. Contract farming services including harvesting are available.

Date post:	25-Jul-2020
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THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA NAADS Newsletter · 2019-10-29 · Email: [email protected] Toll Free line :...

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