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MUKONO BENEFITS FROM NAADS
By John Kasozi
MUKONO is one of the districts that has benefited from the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) programme. The programme has provided agricultural advisory services on local poultry improvement to farmers in Goma sub-county.
Muhammed Kasirye of Zibula Attude Farmers Group from Misindye parish expresses his gratefulness to NAADS for the support given to them in form of advisory services and improved layer breeding cocks.
"We have now acquired off-springs that mature fast and increased bird weight. We dictate our prices when demand arises," he says.
Clients are assured of disease-free cocks. And this strain does not easily succumb to diseases. They can be integrated with the indigenous breeds.
The birds improve nutrition, household income and introduction ceremonies. Farmers are encouraged to keep production records. This cock strain does not eat much.
These birds are reared on semi-intensive system where a backyard range with forage is provided. The range can be made of live fence or chain (wire mesh) mid-way up to allow enough gaseous exchange. At the same time, it allows sufficient sun rays to penetrate so as to dry the husks (litter). Wet husks encourage growth of diseases. Diseases breakout is controlled.
These cocks can be managed on both free-range and deep litter management systems, which are referred to as semi-intensive management system.
Apart from poultry, different varieties of upland rice in Mukono have been promoted by NAADS significantly by a majority of farmers in the district. Farmers have been exposed to planting techniques, fertilizer application, vermin control and post harvest handling methods.
Farmers were overwhelmed by the last season's harvest where an acre yielded an average of 22 bags of 100kg. They were able to sell a kilogramme of hulled rice at sh.1, 000.
Although the banana bacterial wilt has been a menace to banana production in Mukono district, all efforts have been made to control the disease.
The programme has created awareness among stakeholders to make them appreciate the loss they may incur if they do not adhere to the recommended control measures.
These include use of cleaning planting materials, disinfection of garden tools, and restricted moment of infected plant parts and removal of the male bud.
In Nagojje sub-county, where these practices have been adhered to like in Waggala parish, tissue culture planting materials have been provided for establishment of banana fields.
Ernest Bbongole, NAADS chairman in Bukasa, Kimennyedde subcounty, says banana farming is economically viable provided you adhere to the recommended farming advises.
Ssalongo Kavuma, a member of Kyabalogo Vanilla Growers, Nakisunga sub-county, one of the beneficiaries of the NAADS programme, says he has gained a lot of knowledge and skills from service providers who were contracted to train farmers by providing technical services at the time it was most needed.
"In my group, we requested for advice in vanilla processing during the harvesting season. A demonstration unit consisting of a meeting area, office store and curing area was constructed for us," he says.
From the practical perspective, vanilla farmers have been equipped with skills in sorting and grading vanilla beans, curing and packaging as required by the international standards.
In the past they used to sell vanilla to middlemen who exploited them. But now they can store the cured vanilla for over one year as they wait for the prices to stabilise. His group have benefited from the collective sale of the cured vanilla.
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