The large scale growing of maize and soybean by National Animal Genetics Resources Centre and DataBank (NAGRC&DB) across its farms and ranches nationwide is set to boost food and animal feed security in the country.
Following growing widespread hunger and low crop harvest caused by climate change, Cabinet adopted a paper by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to boost food security in the country.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries then directed NAGRC&DB to embark on large-scale commercial farming.
According to Dr Ssengoye Gordon, Head of Production at NAGRC&DB, they have so far planted about 12 square miles of corn and soybean across their nine ranches spread across the country. Of these, 5,646 acres are of maize grain, 1,329 acres are of maize silage, while 600 acres are of soybean.
According to management of NAGRC&DB, the projects could be a game changer in the fight against hunger across the country.
Below are some of the regions/districts to benefit from the project
Acholi Sub-region
Aswa Ranch is located in Burlobo village, Bur lobo parish, Angagura Sub County in Pader district. It borders Gulu in the south, Lamwo in north east and Kitgum district in the north. Aswa Ranch is among the state-owned ranches in the country, where some 1,300 cattle are being bred.
Therefore, the project is expected to benefit Acholi and West Nile sub-regions.
At the 10,000-acre Aswa Ranch, NAGRC has cleared 480 hectares (7 square miles) of land and planted 1,920 (3 square miles) with soybean and maize.
These have also been sprayed with pesticide and herbicides applied and are on 1st and 2nd manual weeding.
At Gwot Apwoy ranch in Nwoya District, 1,380 acres (2.2 sq. miles) have been cleared for second ploughing while 1,600 acres (2.5 sq. miles) have been planted.
NAGRC&DB said the project is to produce food for the people to fight famine and have access to animal feeds which are currently expensive given the harsh climate change.
Lango Sub-region
At the Maruzi ranch in Apac District, Lango Sub-region, 812 acres (1.3 sq. miles) of land have been cleared and 450 acres (0.7 sq. miles) planted with maize and at Kasolwe stock farm, 300 acres (0.47 sq. miles) of bush land have been cleared and 650 acres (1.02 sq. miles) planted with maize.
Central Region
At Lusenke Stock Farm, which is located in Busaana Sub-county, Kayunga District, 912 acres (1.43 sq. miles) of bush land have been cleared and 645 acres (1 sq. miles) planted with maize.
Busoga Sub-region
At the 3 square-mile Kasolwe Stock Farm in Kamuli district, at least 300 acres (0.47 square miles) have been planted with maize. These are expected to benefit Kamuli, Jinja, Mayuge, Bugiri, Iganga, Kaliro, Bugweri Buyende, Luuka, Namutumba and Namayingo districts.
The management of NAGRC&DB adds that they are doing drying and storage of 1,500 metric tonnes of maize grain in the storage facilities at Kasolwe stock farm and manufacture of 1,500 metric tonnes compounded animal feeds.
NAGRC says they are doing drying and storage of 288 metric tonnes of soya bean in the animal feed production plant warehouse at Kasolwe stock farm for manufacture of compounded animal feeds
Ankore Sub-region
At Ruhengyere field station in Kiruhura District, 310 acres (0.49 sq. miles) of bushland have been cleared, and 640 acres (1 sq. mile) planted with maize.
At Sanga field station, 160 acres (0.25 sq. miles) have been cleared and planted with maize.
At Nshaara ranch, 1,283 acres (2 sq. miles) have been planted with maize while another 2,080 acres (3.3 sq. miles) have been cleared for second ploughing.
Rwenzori Sub-region
At Rubona stock farm in Rubona Town Council, Bunyagabu district, 160 acres (0.25 sq. miles) have been cleared for second ploughing while 227 acres (0.35 sq. miles) have been planted with maize.
NAGRC&DB says among the short terms measures, they are doing corn silage making and packaging in laminated sacs for 14,495 metric tonnes of the maize yield for sale and dry season feeding at the farms and ranches.
“About 290,000 fifty kg bags are to be sold at a farm gate price of UGX 25,000 yielding a total of UGX 7,247,500,000,” he says.
Long term plans
In the long term, NAGRC&DB says they plan on establishment of two 10,000-metric tonnes capacity grain storage facilities with attendant animal feed processing equipment at each of the participating nine (9) NAGRC&DB farms and ranches to serve the different regions.
The other is establishment of one high capacity (6250m3) reinforced concrete silage banker at each of the nine NAGRC&DB farms and ranches as well as establishment of pressurised farm water irrigation systems to support all-year round production.
NAGRC&DB also says they plan to acquire high-value mechanised agricultural production support machinery and equipment to support bush clearing, road construction, tillage, spraying, planting, inter-row cultivation, weeding, and thinning.
