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Mukono farmers take on modern indigenous poultry farming
By John Kasozi
The NAADS programme started with six districts of Mukono, Soroti, Arua, Kabale, Tororo and Kibale in a few sub-counties, but with time it has increased area of coverage.
Another 10 districts of Kitgum, Iganga, Kapchorwa, Busia, Wakiso, Kabarole, Lira, Luweero, Bushenyi and Mbarara have been brought on board. Soon Kayunga district will be embraced after preliminary studies have been concluded in the four sub-counties of Busana, Kitimbwa Galiraaya and Kayonza.
Ernest Bbongole, a staff with the Mukono NAADS office, says the programme has helped many farmers.
He says in Mukono the programme took on poultry, rice, piggery, maize, pigeon, soya and banana production, focusing on banana bacteria wilt.
Dr. Jane Frances Kamya, a veterinary service provider, says NAADS has put up two poultry demonstration units in Nyendemalwa-Namaliga and Magonga-Kiwafu parishes, Kimenyedde sub-county to support indigenous breeds. The project took root in May.
“These are simple units that can be erected by the majority of farmers,” she explains.
Each unit has three compartments – a laying, brooding and exercising range. The compartments are planted with an assortment of vegetables, fodder, grass and Russian camouflage.
Each unit has been stocked with 15 local hens and one exotic cock to get an improved breed. The recommended stocking ratio is one layer per two square feet and one square foot per broiler.
Kamya says over 100 farmers attended an induction course, which helped them carry-out ring vaccination and de-worming of all the hens and cocks of the participant farmers.
Hajati Maimuna Namutebi one of the caretakers of the Magonga unit, says the new system is good.
“Chances of hens being snatched by dogs, wild animals, predator birds and thieves are minimal,” she further assures the farmers.
NAADS funds are channelled to local governments where they are used for advisory service provision to farmers. The services promote market-oriented farming; empowering subsistence farmers to access privately delivered agricultural advice and foundation technologies.
Other issues addressed by NAADS programmes are poverty eradication, gender, HIV/AIDS and sustainable natural resource management. |
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