Farmers in the Ankole region are reaping big from a government-run demonstration farm located in Kiruhura district, which provides animals such as cows, goats and sheep to organised farmer groups.
This was evident last week when the Government, through the Microfinance Support Centre (MSC), handed over 198 animals to 22 farmer groups under the Mini-Livestock Demonstration Project.
The initiative aims to improve access to quality breeds, create jobs and enhance resilience against drought.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Daniel Musherure, the acting Mbarara zonal manager for MSC, said the project started in 2020 with the goal of enhancing access to improved livestock breeds, demonstrating modern livestock farming practices, offering free veterinary consultations and addressing community livelihood challenges through job creation.
“Our farm is located in the Ankole cattle corridor, a region grappling with frequent drought. One of our primary objectives is to improve pasture development and demonstrate these practices to farmers. We also aim to improve local livestock breeds since, despite the area’s reputation, it lacked high-quality breeds,” Musherure said.
He added that the handover marks the second corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative by MSC in Kiruhura, with 198 animals given to 22 farmer groups composed of 711 members engaged in bull fattening and goat rearing.
In addition to receiving livestock, the farmers were trained in hay and silage making to ensure adequate animal feed during dry seasons.
“Sheep rearing, though not common in Ankole, offers a higher multiplier effect than cattle and helps diversify farmers’ sources of income,” Musherure said.
The project targets women, youth and persons with disabilities (PWDs), promoting responsible animal husbandry to enhance household incomes and strengthen MSC’s engagement with local communities through impactful CSR programmes.
The farm also serves as a demonstration site for pasture development and management.
Wilson Kajwengye, the Member of Parliament for Nyabushozi County, commended the Government for supporting grassroots farmers.
However, he appealed to MSC to go further by constructing communal dams to counter droughts in the region.
“It is not enough to give farmers improved breeds without ensuring water availability. I urge MSC to consider building or rehabilitating water dams in the area,” he said.
Kiruhura resident district commissioner George Bakunda praised the project, calling it a turning point in livestock farming and economic transformation in the region.
“I laud MSC for not only distributing livestock, but also creating over 400 jobs at the demonstration farm, reducing unemployment locally,” Bakunda said.
He urged beneficiaries to make the most of the programme and other government interventions like Emyooga and the Parish Development Model to escape poverty.
“Multiply these animals so that next time we return, we can hear success stories and see real economic improvement,” he added.
Bakunda also welcomed the shift towards sheep rearing, which he said is less susceptible to disease and has rapid reproductive rates, making it ideal for the region.
Dr John Ssekanjako, the district veterinary officer, commended the programme for equipping farmers with skills to better care for their animals, thus boosting household incomes.
He advised recipients to ensure the health of their animals, arguing that the demonstration farm had provided well-cared-for and vaccinated livestock.
Govt hailed
Geoffrey Baturu, the chairperson of Nyankumba Savings and Credit Cooperative Association, expressed gratitude to the Government and MSC.
He revealed that in 2023, their group received three heifers and five sheep, which have since multiplied to six cows and 16 sheep in just two years.
“We were also given sh20m in capital, which has grown to sh200m. This growth has enabled our members to borrow at low interest rates, improving livelihoods,” he said.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Beneficiaries from Ankole receiving their sheep from Government.
