Four-acre model's success proves small farms can prosper—Museveni

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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reaffirmed the importance of the four-acre model as a strategic approach to turning subsistence farming into a commercial success, noting that even families with limited land can thrive if they adopt the method.

Under the four-acre model, one acre is allocated to coffee, another to fruit trees, a third to pasture for zero-grazing animals, and the fourth to food crops for family consumption.

President Museveni walks along Haji Muhamad Zziwa and his wife during his tour of Zziwa's farm in Kamengo, Mpigi district on Monday. (Credit: PPU)

President Museveni also recommends additional enterprises such as backyard poultry, piggery for non-Muslims, and fish farming along wetland fringes where feasible. He encouraged exploration of cocoa and oil palm growing, citing their high profitability even on small plots of land.

The President made the remarks on Monday, June 16, while touring Zimu Demonstration Farm in Sselinya B village, Mpigi district. Owned by Hajji Muhammad Yusuf Zziwa, the farm is a practical showcase of the National Resistance Movement (NRM)'s strategy for household wealth creation through modern agriculture on small landholdings.

President Museveni inspects Haji Muhamad Zziwa's cows at his farm in Kamengo in Mpigi district during his PDM assessment tour on Monday June 16, 2025. (Credit: PPU)

Museveni praised Zziwa for fully embracing the model and effectively demonstrating its potential. “The NRM message is about modern agricultural practices aimed at improving household incomes. You don’t need a lot of land to make money,” the President said.

To further support Zziwa’s efforts, Museveni pledged a solar-powered water pump to serve the entire village and donated a pickup truck to ease the transportation of poultry feeds, which are currently sourced from as far as Mukono.

Zziwa began with a single cow and now produces 10 litres of milk daily, selling six litres and earning about sh360,000 per month. His poultry business brings in 55 trays of eggs daily, each sold at sh10,000, earning him sh550,000 a day. After annual expenses of sh138 million, he nets sh60 million from poultry alone.

President Museveni waves at some of Mpigi district political leaders during his PDM assessment tour in Kamengo, Mpigi on Monday June 16, 2025. (Credit: PPU)

Zziwa earns a gross annual income of sh68 million from coffee and sh4.8 million from bananas, with net profits of sh56.8 million and sh3.7 million respectively. His avocado farm currently brings in sh720,000 a year, but he’s exploring ways to boost returns.

Altogether, the four-acre farm earns a gross income of sh294 million per year. Zziwa has also ventured into herbal medicine, producing a local tooth remedy verified by the National Drug Authority (NDA).

Despite his success, he cited challenges such as high transport costs for poultry feeds, volatile feed prices, and water shortages affecting both the farm and the wider community. Still, Zziwa’s farm has become a model demonstration centre, offering practical training and inspiration to farmers in the region.

Former Mawokota North Member of Parliament, Amelia Kyambadde, commended the President’s support for rural development and improving household incomes. However, she raised concerns over population pressure on local resources and called for increased investment in water supply, health services, and skills-based education.

President Yoweri Museveni poses for a photo with Haji Muhamad Zziwa and his family during his PDM assessment in Kamengo, Mpigi on Monday shortly after touring Zziwa's poultry, cattle farms, coffee and banana plantations. (Credit: PPU)

Her proposals included the construction of a hospital, a ferry service to ease transport, and a zonal youth training hub for modern agriculture and entrepreneurship.

In response, President Museveni reiterated the government's commitment to empowering rural communities and transforming the economy through strategic models like the four-acre plan. He emphasised that sustainable household wealth creation remains central to Uganda’s long-term development goals.